From Maiharaji Altine, Gusau
Zamfara state House of Assembly has concluded arrangement to investigate the alleged diversion of N1.258 billion given to 2516 Primary Health Care Centres in the state for the purchase of drugs.
The sum of N610,000 was released to each of the 2516 Primary health Centres in the state by the National Health Intervention Agency known as National Basic Health Care Provision Funds to augment their urgent health care needs but only N276,760 was given to them, while the sum of N1. 258b was diverted.
In a press release, the Director General Press Affairs and Public Relations of the Assembly, Alhaji Mustafa Jafaru said, the Asembly has passed a resulation to investigate the alleged illigal diversion of the founds.
Jafaru said “The funds ment to cater for primary Health centres in the state were to a different account of a different health agency in the state”.
He said, the decision to investigate the funds was followed under the matters of urgent public importance raised before the floor of the House by the House leader Honourable Faruk Musa Dosara.
Hon. Dosara said “the money was released by a National Health Intervention Agency known as National basic Health care provision found to augment the urgent health care needs of the primary health centres of the country zamfara state inclusive”.
He further explained that each primary health centre in the state was to benefit with a total cash of N610,000 for the provision of common drugs and some consumables in each primary Health centre.
He alleged that, the sum of N500,000 was cornered to a different account domicile in Drugs and consumables management agency while each Primary health centre was left with only a N110,000.
He then drew the attention of his colleagues to as a matter of urgency and in the spirit of fairness to hurriedly investigate the matter throughly so as to unravel the real truth about the whole saga.
Dosara also maintained that when fully investigated, he was on the opinion that monumental fraud was committed in the primary Health care management board of the state and investigation of fraud as well as recovery of looted money back to the coffers of the state government is part of their primary responsibility.
Responding, the Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Nasiru Mu’azu Magarya who presided over the plenary saluted the caurage of the House leader for raising this fundamental issue and allowed members to freely deliberate on the issue at the floor of the chamber .
After series of contribution from members on this alleged diversion of public founds Speaker Magarya mandated the House committee on Health and human medicine under the chairmanship of Honourable Abdulnasir Ibrahim Gayari to fully investigate the matter and submit its findings to the House in the next one month to come.
