KPMG to audit NPHCDA over immunisation fund

The KPMG audit firm is to probe the finances of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to increase donor confidence, as Nigeria seeks donor support to fund immunisation, Daily Trust has learnt.

It came as the agency met in Abuja with donors and development partners; the World Bank, World Health Organisation, Rotary, UNICEF, fund agencies from US, Canada and Japan, to ask for increased contributions to help Nigeria pay for immunisation.

NPHCDA Executive Director, Faisal Shuaib said, “KPMG will work at our finance management system to close all loopholes and put in place strategies that make it difficult for people to line their pockets with public funds.”

“In the last two to three years, there’s this cloud of corruption and distrust of NPHCDA. It is an open secret. Donors are worried they are not sure what’s happening with NPHCDA. What we are doing is build back that trust,” Shuaib explained the reason behind the audit.

Donor confidence in Nigeria’s health finance swayed after a prolonged investigation found billions of Naira from Global Fund was misappropriated.

The 2017 budget allocates refundsincluding N4.8 billion to Global Fund and N1.6 billion to the Global Alliance for Vaccine, which would withdraw its support from Nigeria by 2020, leaving the country solely responsible for its immunisation.

Health minister Isaac Adewole said funding needed for immunisation would more than quadruple by 2026-from $85 million to $378 million, with nearly eight million children born each year.

“To ensure that there are no stock-outs, you need to budget two years ahead,” said Adewole. “It is not like running to the shop for a pair of shoes.”

Part of current immunisation funding comes from the World Bank, with Nigeria unable to meet full requirements for vaccines.