By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

ABUJA—SENATE President, Dr Bukola Saraki, yesterday, assured that the National Assembly would consider the request from Nigerians that one percent of consolidated revenue be set aside for the primary healthcare.

He also blamed the executive for the non-implementation of the National Health Act and promised that the National Assembly would ensure that laws passed in the country were implemented.

Speaking at the World AIDS Day in Abuja, the Senate President noted with dismay that one of the problems in the healthcare system was the non-implementation of laws relating to the health sector.

“It is the executive that is responsible for the implementation of laws but we have the primary responsibility to ensure that the laws passed are implemented. Over the years, nobody has cared on primary healthcare,’’ he said.

Although Saraki promised to look into the request that one percent of the consolidated revenue be set aside for the primary healthcare sector, he said it would not be immediate.

He, however, said the National Assembly was committed towards ensuring that budgetary allocation to the health sector improved.

He also advocated that government handed off provisions of infrastructure, such as roads and railways, and allow the private sector to play active roles in those sectors.

He called on the people to begin to invest in health insurance.

A member of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Dr. Henry Ewulonu, said for any remarkable improvement to be made in the health sector in the country, Nigerians should own health programmes.

He said:  “All health programmes in the country are being donor-funded This does not give anybody joy for national pride.”

‘’One day, the donors will stop and the sector will suffer. Besides, There should be accountability and government must block all leakages.”

The Executive Director, ONE campaign Africa, Nachilala Nkombo, said the fight against AIDS in Nigeria would get nowhere unless the government stepped up its roles.

She said:  “Corruption and lack of transparency in the health sector, particularly, around HIV funding, has undermined Nigerian government and donor efforts to control the pandemic.

“We need existing resources to be utilised, so government must invest in data for health and institutionalise open contracting in the health sector in order to strengthen transparency and improve outcomes in the fight against AIDS.”