WHO Calls For Momentum On Universal Health Coverage

The World Health Assembly on Tuesday called on all member states to renew its momentum on universal health coverage.

Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General, World Health Organisation, while addressing the assembly, stressed the need for fairness, and equity in health care for the people.

She expressed concern over emergence of new disease and the effect of poverty in accessing quality health care.

Chan said everybody, irrespective of social or whatever status, had the right to good health care, adding that ''universal health coverage reflects the need to maximise health outcome for everyone.

''Everyone, irrespective of their ability to pay, whether they are human, where they live , where they are from, should have access to the quality health care without risking financial ruin.

''A focus on universal health coverage continues the strong emphasis on equity and social justice articulated in the Millennium Declaration and in the future we want.

''Public health looks more and more like a refuge, a safe harbour of hope that allows, and inspires, all countries to work together for the good of humanity.

''This is what we are doing, and we see the results, fear of new diseases can unite the world, and so can determination to relieve preventable human misery.

''This is what makes public health stand out from other areas of global engagement: the motives, the values, and the focus, '' she said.

She commended the growing commitment to universal health coverage and appreciated member states for caring so much about health, nationally, regionally, and internationally.

She encouraged members to keep doing the right things, on the right track and pledge to give her support.

In his remark, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu said Nigeria was implementing a number of strategies for the attainment of Universal Health Coverage.

Chukwu said health insurance coverage was being widened through the scale-up of the Community-based Health Insurance Scheme.

''The Act establishing the National Health Insurance Scheme is being reviewed with the intention of making health insurance mandatory and universal.

''The Midwives Service Scheme (MSS) which was introduced as a response to the shortage of skilled birth attendants especially in 'hard-to-reach' locations, has continued to grow.

''Today, a total of 6,520 midwives, 6,600 community health workers and 2,100 village health workers have been deployed to 1,500 health facilities spread across all the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.''

The minister said the National Health Bill had been returned to the National Assembly following the resolution of some contentious issues.

According to him, the Assembly is currently revising the Bill and ''I am optimistic that it will be passed into law before the end of 2013''.

He explained that the National Health Act would provide additional fund for strengthening Primary Health Care.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs Fatimah Bamidele, said Nigeria was making efforts to ensure that every Nigerian has access to quality health care.

She said the issue of universal health coverage would go a long way in addressing maternal and child mortality.

(source: leadership.ng)