ACOMIN demands increased budgetary allocation for health infrastructure

By Adejoke Adeleye/Abeokuta

The Ogun chapter of a non governmental organization, Civil Society in Malaria Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN) has called on government at all level to increase their budgetary allocation for investment in health infrastructure.

Ogun ACOMIN Coordinator, Mrs O.I Olatunji made the demand while speaking with journalists during a media briefing on global fund malaria community led monitoring project held in Abeokuta.

While speaking on behalf of the coordinator, Tayo Akinpelu said governments at all levels should include effective recruitment and retention strategies to attract and retain skilled healthcare professionals and prioritize the development of reliable electricity and water infrastructure in healthcare facilities in their health investment plans.

He noted that international organisations cannot do everything for Nigeria, therefore the governments at all levels also need to do their part by prioritizing the health of its citizens by taking swift and decisive action to improve living conditions and eliminate the breeding grounds for malaria-carrying mosquitoes.

He added that government at all levels must also enhance their waste management systems to ensure efficient and effective waste disposal and develop sustainable solution and initiatives aimed at improving living conditions.

“Properly maintaining drainage systems and ensuring they are free from debris and waste is also important to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water.

“We therefore urge government at all level to prioritize the health of its citizens by taking swift and decisive action to improve living conditions and eliminate the breed grounds for malaria-carrying mosquitoes. There is also a need to enhance waste management systems to ensure efficient waste disposal and develop sustainable solutions and initiatives aimed at improving living conditions.

“Governments at all levels should increase the budgetary allocation for hospital infrastructures and equipment,implement effective recruitment and retention strategies to attract and retain skilled healthcare professionals and prioritize the development of reliable electricity and water infrastructure in healthcare facilities.

He said mosquitoes breed in stagnant water and by eliminating potential breeding sites, individuals can help reduce the mosquito population by emptying, covering or treating containers that holds water,such as buckets, flowerpots and discarded tires.

He advised individuals as members of communities to come together to channel stagnant water drainage during raining season.

Akinpelu while highlighting on the effort which ACOMIN has made to end malaria in Ogun and in Nigeria, hinted that the organisation is currently working with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to implement the civil society component of the ongoing Global Fund malaria grant.

Also, he said ACOMIN is using the Community Led Monitoring approach to engage stakeholders to take ownership of the health interventions, particularly on malaria to identify gaps hindering effective malaria service delivery and to advocate for improvement.