Universal Health Coverage: Nigeria Government To Partner Private Sectors 

The Nigerian Government says it is ready to partner Organizations to ensure Nigerians access quality Health Care Services especially at the primary health care level in it’s goal to attain Universal Health Coverage, (UHC).

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The Senior Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Salma-Anas Ibrahim stated this during her keynote address to mark the 30 years of Options Consultancy Services existence globally and 20 years of services in unlocking Health prosperity and Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria.

According to her, there was need to expand the Basic Health Care Provision Fund which the Consolidated Revenue Fund, (CRF) presently contributes only one percent to it, a situation she described as grossly inadequate.

She said: “the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu on health is anchored on ensuring Sub Governments take ownership of various health Programmes in their respective States”.
The Special Adviser to the president who spoke about their 100 days in office said they have spent so much time laying the foundation, especially on governance and also getting the right leadership that will lead the rest of the health sector.

The Director General, National Health insurance Agency (NHIA) Professor Mohammed Nasir Sambo, who also served as the Co-Chair of the celebration said the recent passage of the National Health insurance act by the National Assembly, set a positive trajectory for Nigeria to attain the UHC by 2030.

He said: “the act also establishes the vulnerable group finds a crucial step in ensuring that no one is left behind. In the pursuit of universal health coverage, this landmark legislation sets the trajectory for achieving universal health coverage by 2030 aligns perfectly with the theme of today’s event”.

Professor Sambo also said that the event created a platform for stakeholders to deliberate on the challenges, solutions and opportunities to the Universal Health Coverage to unravel the path to a more prosperous and more equitable Nigeria.

The Regional Director, West and Central Africa, Options Consultancy Service, Dr. Ufuoma Omo-Obi, who expressed optimism that 2030 target for UHC was achievable, said Nigeria was ripe enough to attain health prosperity with it’s various commitments to the health Sector.

He said:“The NHIA act guarantees and clearly requires every Nigerian or every personal resident in Nigeria to have access to insurance services, and that’s where the rubber touches the road, there’s a policy framework, getting it to work is something that we need to talk and that’s what we’re talking about from vision to reality, we are envisioning this, it’s time to talk the acttual and that’s why today we are convening a panel of top experts. Policymakers, academicians, practitioners across the divide health, financial health economist , programme implementers, let’s discuss.

 “So we have been able to introduce tools, we’ve been able to provide training, it’s able to provide support to government departments and agencies, for example, we are so proud of NACA”, he added.

The theme for the celebration is “From Vision to Reality: Unlocking Health Prosperity and Universal Health coverage in Nigeria.