By Abdulwaheed Olayinka Adubi, Kaduna
The NGO, PHC Initiative Africa, has said it is disrupting the irregularities in the Nigeria healthcare system and beyond in order to attain the Universal Health Coverage, (UHC) for all in the country and Africa at large.
While the group maintain its mandate is to strengthen primary healthcare, and its vision ‘Africa without health inequality’, hence it would incorporate as many healthcare advocates tagged: ‘PHC Advocates’ for the purpose of advocacy.
Executive Director of PHC Initiative Africa, Zakari Osheku, asserted this during a road work to mark this year’s UHC, with the theme: “Build the world we want, a Healthy Future for all” organized by the NGO, in conjunction with Womenhood Foundation, and KADCHMA in Kaduna on Monday.
Osheku, who said the reason why December 12, is important to his organization is because no nation could attain the UHC without the fundamental pillar developed – Primary Health-care, (PHC); hence the NGO wants to develop 100,000 PHC Advocates across the country as drivers of the advocacy.
“We consider this day very important because we believe a lots of advocacy needs to be done especially at the grassroots. And we believe to achieve this, there is need to incorporate as many healthcare advocates we tagged: ‘PHC Advoccates'”, he said.
The ED averred that there was need for functional PHCs across the country, because that way it would increase accessibility, affordability, and also increase acceptance, because PHC is developed based on the needs and peculiarity of the people as every people have different needs.
According to him, recently, President Muhammadu Buhari, signed into law the National Health Insurance Authority Act, which makes health insurance mandatory for every Nigerian, and legal residents.
He however expressed sadness over its non implementation, noting that, “We’ve seen different policies in place, but what has the government done to ensure these policies were fully implemented?,” he queried, adding “that’s why the PHC Initiative Africa would hold Government responsible by mobilizing as many people as possible, as well as many advocates by empowering them, build their capacity in health system strengthening and UHC,” the ED vowed.
Earlier, the Director of Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority, (KADCHMA), Abubakar Hassan, said the State Government has done so much, still doing and would continue to do all it could to ensure that health for all is guaranteed at the basic minimum level for the citizens.
According to him, in line with the theme of the celebration,the current administration in the state made efforts at ensuring that there is one Primary Healthcare Centre in each of the Wards in the state, which is the first move.
“Again, the State Government went ahead to release 1% of its Consolidated Revenue Fund to enable it take care of the most vulnerable indigent citizens In the state under the KADCHMA.
“So, there are different layers of efforts which the present administration is working to ensure health for all is guaranteed in the state”, he said.
The KADCHMA Director also said the Health Insurance Scheme in the state was designed primarily to ensure that the out of pocket spending incurred by citizens is addressed. “These are all the efforts the government is doing, and would still continue to do, to ensure we build the world we want, and have health for all especially in Kaduna State”, he added.
Also speaking, Programme Officer of Womenhood Foundation, Abubakar Shefiu, said the marking of the day is to sensitize the general public about the Health Insurance Scheme, for them to key into this scheme and insure their health for a better life.
According to Shefiu, the UHC is of great impact to the pregnant women because through this sensitization and the citizens key into this they would access healthcare easily in the state.
“If the pregnant women have health insurance, at their time of needs they could easily access healthcare in the state”, he added.
