NCDs: Patients Demand Release Of 2025 Budget Funds

The Patient Advocacy Working Group (AWG) for NCDs Financing in Nigeria has called on the federal government to urgently translate its commitment to health into concrete, life-saving action for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

The group comprising patients of hypertension from across the country, in alliance with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and health professional communities, at a media briefing in Abuja, said NCDs, including hypertension, diabetes, cancers, and chronic respiratory illnesses, pose some of the greatest threats to Nigeria’s human capital.

Addressing newsmen at the event, a representative of the patient community, Ijeoma Joseph noted that the economic prosperity of NCDs patients in Nigeria bears one of the largest shares of public health burdens.

She said there was need for the government to convert its commitments into real, life-saving interventions.

The Vice President of the Nigeria Cancer Society, Chi-Kadibia Ukoma, observed that One-third of Nigerian adults have one or more NCDs, and less than 20% have access to diagnosis and treatment.

”The rise in NCDs align with targets set in the 2019-2025 multisectoral plan to increase diagnosis and treatment coverage to 80% and reduce mortality by 25%.”

The General Secretary of the Health Sector Reform Coalition, Ndaeyo Iwot, said there was need for political that would translate into sustainable financing.

“Allocations mean nothing without timely release. The Federal Government must immediately release all NCD budget lines in the 2025 budget,” he said.

The General Secretary urged the Federal Government and National Assembly to ring-fence Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) tax revenue for NCD interventions.

According to him, “At least 40 per cent of SSB tax revenue should support prevention, essential medicines, diagnostics and service delivery.” ALSO READ : FCT Health Dept Pledges To Uphold Rights Of TB, HIV/AIDS Patients

“Allocations mean nothing without timely release, the Federal Government must immediately release all NCD budget lines in the 2025 budget,” he said.

On her part, NCDs patient Advocate, Maimuna Barau called on the Federal and state governments to Prioritize and Protect NCD Funding by urgently releasing all NCD budget lines in the 2025 budget.

” Allocations mean little without actual releases, persistent low budget performance must end immediately to ramp up diagnosis and treatment services.”

She said there was need for the legislative and executive arms to work to ringfence SSB Tax to finance Special NCD Interventions.

Maimuna Barau commended the Senate and the Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof Ali Pate for supporting an increase from the token N10 per liter to a more effective rate.

The Patient Advocate said such as N130 per liter or at least 20% of the retail price, or at least 40% of SSB tax revenue should be dedicated to NCD prevention and control, including essential drugs, diagnostics, and service delivery consistent with global best practice.

Maimuna Barau also called for the Strengthening of NCD care in Nigeria’s UHC Efforts notinf that with 70% of health spending coming out-of-pocket, millions delay or abandon treatment for life-threatening NCDs.