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Save the Children tasks government, development partners on Universal Health Coverage

By Paul Adunwoke
18 December 2016   |   3:38 am
To reduce maternal and child mortality in Nigeria, there is need for national commitment and investment towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) ...

MATERNAL

To reduce maternal and child mortality in Nigeria, there is need for national commitment and investment towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by building universal, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services at primary health care level.

Adviser, Save the Children international, Dr Opeyemi Odedere, said this at briefing to commemorate the Universal Health Coverage Day, maintaining that governments must demonstrate political and financial commitment to UHC, through increased public spending on healthcare by moving away from relying on private and out of pocket expenditure towards mandatory, pre-paid and pooled funding mechanisms for health.

“UHC is key to ensuring that everyone has access to essential healthcare. Without a commitment to UHC the poorest and most disadvantaged populations will continue to be left behind. Governments should increase public spending on healthcare to at least five per cent of GDP and reach the recommended minimum of $86 per capita of domestic financing for health.”

Odedere disclosed that the Nigerian health system relies heavily on Community Health Workers, who man over two thirds of Primary Health Centres, despite they often lack the necessary skills for delivery of quality healthcare

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