The Federal Government says it has concluded plans to disburse $1.5 million to the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory for the financing of primary healthcare system.

Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, said this during the presentation of the National Healthcare Plan to officials of the World Health Organisation, WHO, in Abuja on Monday.

Adewole said that the neglect of the primary healthcare system was a major problem in the sector,  lamenting that only 20 percent of Nigeria’s 30,000 primary healthcare facilities were working.

The Minister then outlined governments’ plans to revitalise the health sector including cash disbursement to states to finance primary healthcare.

Amina Shamaki, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Health, also solicited for WHO’s financial and technical support.

The Regional Director of WHO for Africa, Matshidiso Rebecca, assured the government of the organisation’s support and urged that measures be put in place in order to encourage healthcare practitioners to stay in communities where primary healthcare facilities are situated.