Business
FG Approves N10bn For Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme
The Federal Govern
ment has approved N10 billion to improve the services of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Desmond Utomwen, the Media and Communication Consultant to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Office in Abuja,
The statement quoted the Special Assistant to the President on (MDGs), Dr Precious Gbeneol, as explaining that the fund was to improve women and children heath care delivery system.
It added that the CCT was designed to stimulate demand for healthcare by women and children.
According to the statement, the scheme is being scaled up to 30 states with total budgetary provision of N20 billion this year.
“Efforts are being made by initiating Conditional Grants Scheme (CGS) as well as the deployment of ground-breaking mobile money technology to drive the new scale up of CCT.
“Therefore, Mr President approved a sum of N10 billion to improve the CCT scheme for the development of health sector’’, it said.
It explained that CCT scheme’s objective was to assist the current generation out of poverty and develop human capital.
The statement said that CGS was designed as a vehicle through which saving made from the debt relief would be expended on projects to actualise the MDGs efforts.
It also said that the MDGs’ office was committed to implementing schemes and programmes that would enhance health sector in the country.
The statement said the schemes included the Midwives Services Scheme, Community Health Extension Workers Initiative, the Village Health Workers Scheme and Saving One Million Lives Initiative and the UN MDGs Acceleration Framework (MAF).
“These are interventions designed to improve human capacity and make the health sector more resilient.
“In addition, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency continues to derive funding from my office to fund primary healthcare in Nigeria including immunisation,’’ it said.
It said the office had collaborated with the Ministry of Health as well as the UK Department for International Development, the UN Country System in Nigeria and other stakeholders.
The statement said that the efforts would enhance the schemes and bring about development in the health sector in the country.
“We have opportunity to make transformational changes throughout societies, and in particular ensure that those who are in need are given the necessary support’’, it said.
It added that MDGs framework had helped to focus international and local attention on improving the health of those most vulnerable in the society.