…CHEDRES Charges Cross River Lawmaker on Adequate Funding for TB
…Advocating for Adequate Tuberculosis Funding in Cross River state
Tuberculosis (TB) continues to pose a serious health threat in Cross River state, where four lives are lost daily to this preventable and treatable disease. In light of this crisis, the Centre for Healthcare Development and Research Initiative (CHEDRES), under the leadership of Executive Director Felix Ukam Ngwu, has intensified advocacy efforts to secure the release of funds already allocated for TB control and to push for increased budgetary allocations. This report highlights the recent advocacy visit to the 10th Cross River State House of Assembly, the policy brief presented during the visit, and the commitments made by key stakeholders to address the TB burden in the state.
Key Advocacy Points:
1. Unreleased Funds for TB Control:
Despite budgetary allocations in previous years, crucial funds earmarked for TB control in Cross River state have not been released. Felix Ukam Ngwu emphasized the urgency of this issue, stating, “Our advocacy is to unlock what is already available in the budget. N10 million from the State Ministry of Health and N22.806 million from the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency. These funds have not been released. And over the years, they’ve been budgeting for TB. This advocacy is to ensure that money is released.”
2. Support from the Tenth Cross River State House of Assembly:
The advocacy visit to the Elvert Ayambem led-Cross River State House of Assembly on 6th August 2024, was met with a positive response. Hon. Hillary Ekpang Bissong, Chair of the House Committee on Health, expressed his commitment to prioritizing TB funding. He made a promise that if the budgeted funds for 2024 are released and additional funding is secured, he will use his office to push for increased allocations in the 2025 fiscal year. Jane Iwara, a CHEDRES team member, confirmed this commitment, noting that “the Office of House Committee on Health, represented by the chair of the committee, Hon. Hillary Ekpang Bissong, will give priority to TB. Bissong made a commitment that if the budgeted funding for 2024 for TB is released and we go to the Office of the Special Adviser on Budget Monitoring and Evaluation, and they are able to top it up, that he will use his office to increase for the 2025 fiscal year.”
3. Policy Recommendations from CHEDRES:
The policy brief presented to Hon. Bissong during the advocacy visit outlined several key recommendations:
– Increase Allocation: To effectively combat TB, there is an urgent need to increase the budgetary allocation for TB activities. This increase would allow for the implementation of comprehensive prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and control strategies.
– Enhanced Budget Transparency: The policy brief calls for greater transparency and accountability in the budgeting process to ensure that allocated funds are released and used as planned.
– Strengthen Partnerships: Collaboration with international organizations, civil society, and private sector actors is crucial to leverage additional resources and enhance the effectiveness of TB control initiatives.
Ngwu explained that the advocacy efforts led by CHEDRES, in collaboration with the Cross River State House of Assembly, represent a significant step toward addressing the TB crisis in the state. The commitment shown by Hon. Hillary Ekpang Bissong and the increased focus on healthcare funding under Governor Bassey Otu’s administration provide a hopeful outlook for the future of TB control in Cross River State. However, “sustained advocacy and accountability are essential to ensure that these commitments are realized and that the lives of those affected by TB in the state are protected”, Bissong said.
