Ogun Assembly Urges Increased Funding for Health Sector to Reduce Mortality Rates

The Ogun State House of Assembly has called for a significant increase in funding for the health sector to combat infant and maternal mortality and boost life expectancy. This appeal was made during a meeting with the Family Health Initiative, an advocacy group, at the Assembly Complex on Tuesday.

Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Wahab Haruna, and other lawmakers, including the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sheriff, accentuated the need for improved funding to deliver quality healthcare services to the people. They also stressed the importance of attitudinal change among health officials.

Earlier, the Chairperson of the Family Health Initiative, Mrs. Oluwakemi Balogun, urged the Assembly to collaborate with the state government and public-spirited individuals to fund the health sector, particularly in addressing infant and maternal mortality and providing family planning kits and consumables.

In a related development, the Assembly acknowledged Governor Dapo Abiodun’s request for approval of the 2025-2027 State Medium Term Framework (MTEF) ahead of the 2025 budget preparation. The Speaker, Oludaisi Elemide, acknowledged the Governor’s correspondence during the plenary session.

The Governor’s letter, dated August 23, 2024, seeks the Assembly’s consideration and approval of the 2025-2027 MTEF to facilitate planning and budgeting for 2025 and the subsequent years.