Group lauds Katsina for child survival funding

The Integrated Child Survival Advocacy (ICSA) Katsina State Team has commended the Katsina State Government for increasing investment in health and child survival interventions in the proposed 2027 budget.

The Katsina State Executive Council recently approved a 2027 budget proposal of N828.64 billion, with N53.64 billion, representing 8.41 per cent, allocated to the health sector.

The allocation represents a 3.02 per cent increase over the 2026 health budget, reflecting the government’s continued commitment to strengthening healthcare services and improving outcomes for women and children.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, ICSA State Technical Lead in Katsina, Dr Ma’awuya Aliu, said the team particularly welcomed the N3.72 billion earmarked for child survival priority interventions.

Aliu said that the allocation exceeded the estimated N3.23 billion required to meet ICSA’s benchmark of N1,500 per child under five, based on a projected 2027 under-five population of 2,155,180.

According to him, the child survival allocation covers routine immunisation and polio eradication, nutrition, malaria prevention and treatment, free medical care and other health services across the state’s 34 local government areas.

He said the proposed budget increased nutrition funding from N500 million to N1.2 billion and raised funding for free medical care at the State Primary Healthcare Agency from N100 million to N160 million.

Aliu said the allocation also included N106.53 million for routine immunisation and polio eradication, N50 million counterpart funding for the ANRiN programme and N680 million for child survival interventions across the 34 LGAs.

He added that N828.51 million was allocated for malaria interventions under the State Ministry of Health, while N750 million was earmarked for the Drug and Medical Supplies Agency to support free medical care at general hospitals.

He described the proposed allocation as a strong demonstration of the government’s commitment to protecting the health and survival of children across the state.

Aliu said the N3.72 billion allocation to child survival priorities marked a significant step toward expanding access to essential healthcare services for children.

According to him, the investment could improve routine immunisation coverage, strengthen nutrition services, enhance access to essential medicines and boost malaria prevention and treatment efforts.

He, however, said that the impact of the allocation would depend on the timely release and efficient utilisation of approved funds, as well as effective coordination among stakeholders.

Aliu emphasised the need for continued commitment to accountability, implementation and timely fund releases to ensure resources reached health facilities and communities where they were most needed.

The commendation followed the approval of the proposed 2027 budget by the Katsina State Executive Council with the theme, “Building Your Future Agenda IV”.

According to the state government, the proposed budget allocates 77 per cent to capital expenditure and 23 per cent to recurrent expenditure.

In addition to health, the budget provides funding for other priority sectors, including education, works, housing and transport, as well as agriculture and rural development.

The statement noted that sustained investment in primary healthcare and child survival programmes remained critical to ensuring that children received life-saving interventions when needed.

It added that adequate financing for routine immunisation, nutrition, essential medicines and malaria services would strengthen the capacity of health facilities to deliver quality healthcare.

The advocacy team urged the state government to sustain the momentum during budget approval and implementation while strengthening accountability mechanisms to track releases and expenditure on child survival priorities.

The proposed 2027 budget is expected to be presented by Gov. Dikko Radda to the Katsina State House of Assembly for consideration and approval.

(NAN)