Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Funds meant for the 17 Local Government Areas of Enugu State under the Tree Maternal and Child Health programme are yet to be remitted since the inception of the present administration, Ikengaonline can authoritatively confirm.
The special funding for maternal and child health programme was initiated by the former administration of Gov. Sullivan Chime to offer free maternal care to pregnant women and their new born babies.
An official of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency in one of the LGAs told Ikengaonline in confidence that since the beginning of the present administration of Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the funds have not been remitted to the health authorities at the LGAs.
“I can confirm that the funds in that account are now over N200 million.
“Every year that fund is included in the budget but it had never been remitted to us since Sullivan left office in 2015.
“The funds are deducted from the LGA allocation direct from the source. Under Sullivan, he used part of the money to purchase Ambulance’s and Motorcycles to each LGA health services.
“But since Ugwuanyi came in, the money is being deducted but nothing is happening, in fact healthcare services at the LGAs are completely paralysed,” he said.
Investigation also shows that none of the heads of health units in the 17 LGAs has motorcycle to move around for supervision.
“No ambulance in any of the LGA health facilities, no motorcycle, even bicycle this administration has not given to us to facilitate healthcare services at the grassroots,” our source said.
He further accused politicians at the local government level of playing politics with the health of their people.
“The local government chairmen do not bother about other needs of the people except when it is time for election.
“As soon as money comes they divide it and the next thing they disappear,” he said.
