HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ADVOCATES ALLOCATION OF 1% CONSOLIDATED REVENUE TO TACKLE PUBLIC HEALTH DISEASES 10-07-24
By Sadiq Aminu As part of effort to ensure the wellbeing of the citizenry, the House of Representatives committee on HIV AIDs, Tuberculosis and Malaria, ATM, has canvassed the allocation of one percent of the Consolidated Revenue of the Federal Government to tackle HIV/AIDS and other Public Health diseases.
The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Amobi Ogah who briefed his colleagues at the end of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA and House ATM Committee retreat held at the national Assembly complex in Abuja, explained that the decision followed a careful analysis of NACA’s capacity, performance and experience as well as for the sustenance of the fight against all public health diseases and to reduce over dependence on foreign Aids
Mr. Ogah stressed the need to amend the NACA Establishment Act to restructure NACA to a Multi Sector Agency that will coordinate responses to HIV/ AIDS, and other Public Health threats such as Viral Hepatitis, Tuberculosis, Bu ruli Ulcer, Leprosy and Malaria.
He reiterated the Committee’s commitment towards reviewing the anti-discrimination Act of 2014 to ensure relevance and to further the dialogue on stigmatization of patients who suffer from these diseases.
The Committee called on all Non-Governmental Agencies and Other Non-State Actors who are working in the sector to register with NACA or the New Agency and subject themselves to oversight by the National Assembly to promote accountability, transparency and National security and sovereignty of our Nation.
The Committee also called for more interface and engagement with NACA for improved synergy and continuous information sharing on multi-sectoral coordination and management of HIV and other related diseases,
Mr. Ogah emphasized the need for more capacity building Mechanism and attendance at HIV/AIDS conferences for enhanced knowledge of global best practices and innovations.