26 February 2016, Abuja – The Federal Government and World Bank have formed a partnership aimed at assisting state governments to grapple with the effects of the financial challenges occasioned by the slump in global crude oil prices.
Speaking at the end of a two-day workshop in Ibadan, the Chief Responsibility Officer and Team Leader of Mothergold, Dr. Adesina Fagbenro-Byron, said through a programme tagged ‘Saving One Million Lives’, the FG and World Bank were planning to reduce the effect of the economic crises on primary healthcare services.
He said development partners including the World Bank were providing support to the SOML through a scheme called the Programme for Results, which will be implemented at the state level.
Fagbenro-Byron said, “The quantity of services provided is prioritised with 61 per cent of the resources from the Programme for Result dedicated to rewarding improvements in six indicators. States will receive $205,000 for every percentage point increase in the sum of the six indicators.
“States will need to radically rethink and engage a range of actors in the search and deployment of locally tailored innovations that can improve health outcomes at the state level. Improvements will be measured through surveys that provide robust estimates at the state level.”
He added, “Our common objective is to unlock billions of naira set aside by international bodies for healthcare delivery in Nigeria. Among the criteria to access these funds include the states’ commitment to match funds received with results achieved.”
The workshop, a replica of which was held in Enugu simultaneously, was attended by participants from government health ministries and departments, civil society groups, the private sector and other stakeholders.
- Punch
