PHCDA refutes MAWA allegation of expending N3bn on PHCDA in 2021
The Kebbi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHCDA) said, on Friday that, it had expended N673 million the State Government budgeted to the agency out of N3 billion budgeted in 2021.
Dr. Abubakar Kaoje, the Executive Secretary of the agency stated this while briefing newsmen in Birnin Kebbi following allegation of spending over N3 billion by Media Advocacy West Africa Foundation (MAWA- Foundation).
PHCDA refutes MAWA allegation of expending N3bn on PHCDA in 2021
He said,”The attention of the PHCDA has been drawn to an on line report from an NGO, MAWA, on which some pictures of a dilapidated PHC facility at Unguwan Madi village in Jega LGA was used to question the justification for what the NGO alleged was spent on rural health by the state government in 2021.
“Agency is compelled to clear the air on the matter in view of the distortion of facts in that report with a tendency to misinform the public and create a bad impression of the state government.
“The truth of the matter is that in 2021, the state government had a budgetary provision of N3,065,379,144.00 for PHC out of which N672,968,488.93 was expended for the year.
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“The figure of N3.03 billion quoted in the MAWA’s report as the state’s expenditure on PHCDA in 2021 is therefore a gross mispresentation of facts.”
Ka’oje lamented that the PHC facility showcased in the report was a third grade facility and health post).
According to him, the state government has over 500 PHCs in addition to the first grade PHC and second grade healthcare facilities.
“In its effort towards addressing the PHC infrastructure gaps and in line with the Ward Health System of the country aimed at providing, at least one functional PHC per political ward, the state government in collaboration with development partners has embarked on PHC revitalization.
“The resultant effect of that move as the the renovation of 140 of the 225 ward focal PHCs in the state with an on-going renovation of 36 more facilities.
“In addition, the state government had approved the full implementation of PHC under one roof policy and provided regular funding for PHC activities in the 21 LGAs of the state,” he said.
The secretary urged the media organisations and the NGO as well as social media groups to always endeavor to balance their stories before going on air to avoid distorting the facts and misinforming the public in the name of protecting their interest.
