Save the children international pledges increased commitment for universal health coverage.
By Aminu Dalhatu
Save the Children international has reiterated it determination to continue
supporting government to achieve the mandate of putting in place policies and structures that will help to bring quality and affordable health care to the people.
The Advocacy Campaign and Policy Manager of Save the Children International Abuja office, Mr Ifedilichukwu Innocent stated this at a public dialogue in commemoration of the 2023 International Universal Health Coverage day held in Kaduna.
Mr Innocent said government agencies were key to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Kaduna and Nigeria in general.
“Universal Health Coverage is an opportunity given to stakeholders including the government, private Sector and Individuals to promote issues around quality health for people at low cost.”
Mr Ifedilichukwu Innocent further revealed that, the organization has been working with government structures perticulerly Contributory health Schemes. Primary Health Care Development Agency and the Ministry of Health amongst others to achieve the desire objective of achieving Universal Health Coverage.
He therefore affirmed that Save the Children International would continue working with Government and other partners to achieve its mandate.
“We are working with these structures to achieve their mandate. We will continue doing that because that is how we are structured.
According to Mr innocent, the health budgeting for Kaduna state in 2022 has met the Abuja fifteen percent declaration, stressing that, it had the challenge of cash backing.
He however commended the state for its glaring political willingness to do the needful which made it to meet the 15 per cent Abuja declaration.
In a remark, Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma Ahmed represented by the Manager Malaria Elimination Programme of the Ministry, Dr Danga Sule said the government had taken concrete steps to achieve Universal Health Coverage in the state.
Hajiya Ahmad stressed the need for increased collaboration with private organisations to achieve Universal Health Coverage, saying that government alone cannot shoulder the responsibility of more than 10 million of its citizens in achieving universal health coverage.
Earlier, the Advocacy and Campaign Coordinator for Save the Children International Kaduna Field Office, Mr Farouk Abdulkadir said the organization would ensure that everyone irrespective of status in the society have access to quality health services.
Mr Farouk restated SCI’s commitment in advocating that childrens survive against preventable diseases.
He commended Kaduna State Government for creating the enabling environment for the organisation to thrive in the task of achieving its mandate of ensuring a healthier population.
The theme for this years’ Universal Health Coverage day 2023 is: “Health for all, Time for action.”
