WHO Director says universal health coverage attainable through primary healthcare

She said that the Federal Government was committed to giving quality healthcare to the people

Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole.

 (Vanguard)

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, has said that Nigeria would attain Universal Health Coverage (UHC) using  Primary Health Care as a tool.

Moeti said this at a press briefing organised by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, at the end of the visit of the WHO director to Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja.

She said that the Federal Government was committed to giving quality healthcare to the people, adding that ``I am happy that a certain amount of money will be given to every state, so as to have access to good health.

``I am also happy to know that Nigerians can get assess to quality health care, irrespective of financial status.

``However, we need to have more surveillance system so we need additional resources to sustain it.,' she said.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Adewole, who pledged that the budgetary allocation for health would be properly utilised, added that ``we identify with all WHO projects and we will address the issue of balance between the rich and the poor in terms of accessibility to healthcare.

``We will disburse 1.5 million U.S. dollars to states and each state will get 10 million dollars and if properly utilised, more will be given to them.

``We are waiting for your return next year, to declare Nigeria polio-free," he said.

Moeti said that WHO and the heads of UN were working toward continued support for Nigeria and expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for its commitment toward attaining UHC.