
Development Integrity Goal (DIG) Foundation has called for the renovation of Primary Healthcare Facilities in the state.
DIG is a Non -governmental organization in Ebonyi State currently advocating for release of at least 70% of health budget in the state.
DIG said the result of the USAID State2State 2020 report conducted in 171 Primary Healthcare Facilities by the state Ministry of Health in collaboration with Health Policy Plus shows that 96% of the Primary Healthcare facilities needed various degrees of renovations,
it noted that 46% of the facilities have no fence, while 35% have no form of power supply with 47% of them without alternative power supply.
According to the foundation, only 40% of the facilities have functional toilets, but no good waste management while 55% have no sources of water supply in the facilities and described it as worrisome.
Executive Director of the foundation, Oliver Ajah disclosed this in Abakaliki, the state capital during Health Sector Advocacy Alliance Roundtable for media and Civil Society Organizations organized by Green-The-Red-Health Sector Cluster in collaboration with the foundation with support from USAID.
“Ebonyi State has never fulfilled the 2001 Abuja declaration of allocating 15% budget to health, and budget releases for the sector; for instance, Ministry of Health was less than 1% annual capital budget release in 2022, EBSPHCDA and other sister agencies/Institutions had 0% capital budget performances in 2022, & 2024 Q1, except EBSHIA. See below the current status table.

“The Primary Health Care facilities in Ebonyi State also have challenges of inadequate manpower, some dilapidated and non-exiting of some infrastructures among others, resulting to high out-of-pocket expenditure for vulnerable groups coupled with poor healthcare services.
“The result of USAID State2State baseline of 2020 also confirmed the 2019 baseline survey conducted in 171 Primary Healthcare Facilities by Ebonyi State Ministry of Health in collaboration with HP Plus showing; 96% of PHC facilities needed various degrees of renovations, 46% of PHC facilities has no fence, 35% has no forms of power supply, 47% of the PHC facilities has no alternative power supply, only 40% of the PHC facilities has functional toilet, but no good waste management, 55% has no Sources of Water Supply in house, only 40% of the facilities has access to borehole. Thus, it becomes worrisome when funds are not released to these health-related agencies and institutions that focus on Improving Primary Health.
“However, it is worthy to note that, the health sector budget performance in the last quarter of 2023 under this administration was very promising, but the drop in 1st quarter of 2024 is worrisome”, he stated.
Ajah lamented that out of the N9 billion budgeted for the health sector this year in the state for the 2023 budget, only N9 million has been released to the sector by the state government.
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