CSJ Organises 2023 Pre-Health Budget Validation Meeting In Ekiti State

The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has organised the Ekiti State USAID-SCALE validation meeting for the 2023 pre-health budget memorandum  at Kototel Hotel,  Onigarri Road, GRA, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The pre-budget memo will serve as an advocacy tool for the right to health cluster and beyond to engage the Ekiti State Government on improving healthcare in the State.

From the review of existing budget commitments conducted by CSJ, Ekiti State’s public budget allocations do not meet the requirement of the funding needed to achieve Universal Health Coverage. The pre-health budget memo recommends among other things that there should be popular participation in the preparation of the health MTSS as well as the annual budget. This will ensure that the needs of the society are reflected and priotised especially in a time of paucity of funds.

The participants made key contributions to improve the document. One of such contributions was by Ogundero Oluwabunmi, Director of Programme Ekiti State Health Insurance. He suggested that the management of funds from the basic healthcare fund should be through a single account to ensure accountability and transparency.

Another contribution was made by Mr Timothy Idowu Gen. Sec. Coalition of Civil Society Organisations. He pointed out that the involvement of CSOs in the healthcare sector in Ekiti State is extremely poor and needs to improve if universal health coverage is to be attained in the State as well as the nation at large.

There were 28 participants at the workshop drawn from relevant ministries, departments and agencies of government including media and CSO partners.