UHC to render equitable, evidence-driven healthcare delivery services-Minister
By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, has said that the Universal Health Coverage (UHC), was to deliver an efficient, equitable and evidence-driven healthcare services to the people by 2030.
According to him, UHC has targeted the vulnerable population with qualitative, accessible, affordable and responsive healthcare services in communities.
Salako made the declaration, yesterday, at the opening council session of the 65th National Council on Health (NCH), in Maiduguri, Borno state.
He said the released Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper, was also to improve health crisis preparedness and reviving the country’s health system.
“President Bola Tinubu is determined to walk the talk on UHC,” he said, so that the health status of Nigerians is improved.
The Minister, therefore, called on the 36 governors to emulate the commitment of the President, by implementing the health renewal compact signed in December, 2023.
On the strategies of implementing UHC, he said, “Our strategies and action plans included strengthening and prioritising primary health care (PHC),” stating that the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund with the training and retraining of health workers will sustain UHC.
Besides the funding and training, he added that infrastructure upgrades of health facilities are ensured across health institutions.
the PHC level, infrastructural upgrade of healthcare facilities across tertiary health institutions.
He charged the governors to emphasise the provision of essential equipment and supplies for diagnosing cancer.
health institutions with emphasis on essential equipment and supplies in
diagnosing cancer and for care management, neonatal units, vaccines, and other diagnostic tools to cater for children and maternal needs.
While implementing UHC, he noted deliberate emphasis be on the promotion of health and disease prevention by the community health workers.
He warned that the challenge of recurrent strikes in the health sector is clearly a major factor that can derail the UHC plans for renewing the health sector in the country.
According to him, the incessant strike in the health sector is not only de-marketing the sector but has affected various professional bodies within the system.
“This is a major stumbling block to the UHC agenda,” he noted, adding that a robust mechanism be put in place to ensure that strikes by the health workers are prevented.
Salako appealed to the Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) to call off their seven-day warning strike action.
He assured that “we’re in active discussion with the Federal Ministry of Education to address them expeditiously.”
Governor Babagana Zulum said that the UHC is an opportunity to scale up maternal care across the country and to reduce maternal and child deaths.
He said, “As we move forward, let us renew our commitment to this cause by collaborating with federal and state agencies, health workers, and community leaders.”
Zulum stated that they are essential if we are to provide safe and equitable healthcare for all under the UHC.
He noted that the challenges of universal health coverage were the lack of coordination among some of the governors and health institutions and agencies at the federal and state levels.
Like Oliver Twist, he urged the Minister to consider the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in the state.
“This will complement our existing health facilities for effective and efficient healthcare delivery in the three senatorial districts,” he said.
