WHO mission in Nigeria wiII boost universal health coverage – Official

Technical Officer on Health Financing at the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Nigeria, Dr Francis Ukwuije, Thursday,  said the mission will boost health coverage.

Ukwuije stated  this at a meeting in Abuja between the Health Financing Mission of WHO in Nigeria and director-general, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Professor Mohammed Sambo.

He stated that the country had more than 50 per cent of the population and in some states up to 80 per cent needed healthcare.

Ukwuije said efforts at implementing compulsory health insurance in Nigeria was as important as advancing the development of the country.

He said WHO mission to the NHIA is useful for the reasons that, it would help to support the NHIA and energise it towards operationalising the new law to gain the benefits therein.

“I wish to state that as WHO, we have the mandate to support member states in their priority areas.

“We can see that financing health insurance is one of the accelerators that the country has chosen and also primary healthcare towards universal health coverage.

“To ensure we have good representation and high level advocacy to the government of Nigeria and to those who make the laws and policies in the country.

“To support the country in mopping up areas of health financing for the attainment of the Universal health coverage,” he said.

Responding, The NHIA director-general, Prof. Mohammed Sambo, said the bill signed by the president was not only a big commitment to achieving his vision of the next level agenda but also a desire to ensure healthcare delivery.

“Population of Nigeria as a symbol of art and health is one of the critical elements of development,’’ Sambo said.