Plans by Nigeria’s government to cut healthcare spending risk undermining the country’s coronavirus response and severely impacting already strained services, health and transparency groups have warned. Funding for local, primary healthcare services will be cut by more than 40% this year in a revised budget expected to be passed into law in the coming weeks. The proposed cuts could affect immunisations, childcare, maternal healthcare and family planning services. Experts sound alarm over lack of Covid-19 test kits in Africa. Nigeria currently spends less than 5% of its federal budget on health. Dwindling oil sales, the crash in global oil prices and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic are understood to be the reason for the cuts. According to Prof Innocent Ujah, the head of the Nigerian medical association, the proposed cuts have come just as more investment in health is needed. Nigerian authorities took early steps to try to contain the outbreak of Covid-19. But cases are steadily rising, doubling in the past three weeks to 12,000 infections. A number of challenges have undermined its test and trace strategy, including too few test kits. Just 80,000 tests have been administered, far lower than the country’s health officials want.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
More Stories
A Mangrove Project is the Star of Kenya’s Gazi Bay
Not Enough Females Operating in the African Venture Capital Space
Slavery has a Complex Legacy in Niger
Human Trafficking in Tanzania Exposed
Many African Countries are Also Grappling with a Serious Dollar Shortage Crisis
Harare’s New Scheme to Curb an Economic Collapse
South Africa Closes Off Youth Month on a Tragic Note
Activists Want Morocco to Account for Border Deaths
The Digital Economy as an Important Driver of Long-term Growth in Africa
The Work Must Continue… Equity & Innovation for Africa’s Recovery
Botswana and Cape Verde Moved to Level 3- High Risk
10 Best Experiences in Kenya