Connect with us

Metro

Why Nigeria must achieve universal health coverage – Senate

Published

on

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, D. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, said on Wednesday the National Assembly (NASS) is committed to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UCH) by supporting a Legal Framework on State Health Insurance Scheme.

UHC is the ability of people and communities to use promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services they need while also ensuring that the use of these services does not expose the user to financial hardship.

Oloriegbe stated this at the launch of “Nigeria 2020: The Year of the Nurse and Midwife” at Gwagwalada, Abuja.

The event was organised by Nigerian Nurses Charitable Association- UK (NNCAUK).

Oloriegbe, who was represented by his Senior Legislative Aide, Mr Tajudeen Arowolo, said the NASS had passed the National Health Insurance Commission Bill, adding that “we are working to put the country on the path of achieving UHC.

He said: “Lawmakers have huge task toward ensuring that existing policy on health, such as the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) is implemented in such a way that would be of benefit to the poor.

READ ALSO: Abuja supermarket shut over alleged sale of expired products, discrimination – Nigerian govt

“There had been subsequent appropriation for BHCPF in addition to appropriation for Equity Fund in many states.”

In his remarks, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunimbe Mamora, said the declaration of 2020 as Year of Nurses and Midwives by the World Health Organisation (WHO) was timely.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now