FCTA to deduct PHCS funds

By LAIDE AKINBOADE

ABUJA — Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, yesterday, directed that funds meant for the requirements of Primary Health Care Services (PHCS), should be deducted at source from the monthly federation allocation meant for the FCT Area Councils.

The Minister gave this directive while meeting with the members of the Implementation Committee of the FCT Polio Immunization Exercise, Development Partners as well as stakeholders on Tuesday in his office at Abuja.

He said the action was necessary to underscore the importance of Routine Immunization to all the nooks and crannies of the FCT.

According to him, “The FCT Administration remains a practical example of good governance, as my Administration has been prompt in releasing all funds from Federation Account allocation including 10 percent of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) accruing to the FCTA to all the six area councils.

“I wondered therefore,  why the Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory would fail to meet all its statutory responsibilities despite the magnanimity of the Administration to live up to its own responsibility.

“We as the FCT Administration have given the FCT Area Councils all it takes as required by the law and therefore cannot accept failure in the area of primary health care services which is central to the health of rural dwellers in their respective Councils because we cannot continue to micro-manage the Area Councils”.

The Minister instructed that Traditional Rulers and Religious Leaders must be carried along in all the processes of Routine Immunization Exercises in the Territory.

He revealed that the issues and gaps noticed in polio eradication exercise will also be tabled at the subsequent meeting of G-7 Security Summit which is an assembly of FCT and all its contiguous states to find a practical way of nipping in the bud cases of poliomyelitis in the zone due to migration of people around the zone.

While calling for serious advocacy and sensitization amongst all stakeholders, Senator Mohammed appreciated the efforts of Bill Gates and Aliko Dangote as well as other development partners in contributing to the total eradication of this menace.

Considering the importance of Routine Immunization Exercise, the Minister vowed that he would personally go to monitor and supervise the house-to-house immunization exercise if invited.

Speaking earlier, the FCT Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr. Demola Onakomaiya lauded the uncommon commitment of the FCT Minister and FCT Minister of State, Senator Bala Mohammed and Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide respectively for providing the political will to upscale health activities in the Federal Capital Territory.

Dr. Onakomaiya however pleaded with the Area Councils wake up to their responsibilities by contributing their quota as required statutorily.

The meeting was also attended by the FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, representatives of World Bank, UNICEF, members of the Implementation Committee as well as Stakeholders.