CS-SUNN supports PHC stakeholders on BHCPF Work Plan Development in Kaduna
By: Femi Mustapha
The Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has engaged stakeholders from Primary Health Care ( PHC) facilities, sabo Tasha in Chikun Local Government Kaduna state
to support them in their annual Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) Work Plan Business Care Development.
In his presentation “Overview of Minimum Nutrition package in Primary Health Care ( PCHs) facilities “Assistance state Nutrition Officer Adams George Ango said PHC is indeed essential to Universal Health Care (UHC) and would specifically promote the demand and uptake of nutrition services in grassroots communities,
Ango, therefore said there is a need to push for the increase and improved nutrition funding and accountability.
He charged the participants to include equipment, Materials, and drugs needed for the nutritional well-being of patients from pregnancy to adulthood.
In his presentation titled “Nutrition as a Major Component of BHCPF” the Project Officer of CS-SUNN Ambrose Evhoesor stressed that malnutrition is so endemic in Nigeria because of its close association with Poverty.
He added that One of the consequences of poverty is the lack of access to nutritious food, which predisposes people to poor nutrition.
“Poverty increases the chances of malnutrition. Malnutrition, in turn, traps communities in poverty. Poverty and malnutrition are inextricably linked.”
According to him, The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) was established under section 11 of the National Health Act as catalytic funding to improve access to primary Health care.
He added that the BHCPF serves to fund the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services (BMPHS), increase the fiscal space for health, and strengthen the national health system particularly at the primary health care (PHC) level by making provisions for routine daily operation cost of PHCs, and ensure access to health care for all, particularly the poor, thus contributing to overall national productivity.
Evhoesor admonished the participants to always put nutrition at the forefront when developing their BHCPF Work Plan Business Care Development.
Speaking earlier, the Project Assistant of CS-SUNN Kunle Ishola said CS-SUNN formally inaugurated the Partnership for Improving Nigeria Nutrition Systems (PINNS) 2.0 project.
He explained that PINNS 2.0 is a three-year project designed to strengthen the Nigeria nutrition systems to be more Result-driven, Effective, Serviceable, Efficient, and Transparent for Human Capital Development (RESET4HCD).
“Nigeria’s HCD target by 2030 is to attain 20 million additional healthy (under-five-years-old children surviving and not stunted), educated (completing secondary school), and productive (youth entering the labor force) Nigerians.”
Me. Ishola further said CS- SUNN has been working in Kaduna state and is a major force in the creation of Budget Line for Nutrition in the MDAs in the state.
