State Coordinator, World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Chukwumuanya Igboekwu says the objectives and goals of the organisation is to achieve universal health coverage.Dr Igboekwu said this while addressing a technical work group at the just-concluded healthcare financing meeting at Awka.Everything we do about healthcare financing is to ensure the ultimate goal of EU/WHO which is to support countries to drive toward universal health coverage.
We know that universal health coverage is the sure way for us to have equitable access to healthcare for both the rich, poor and the vulnerable in the society.
He explained that WHO with support funding from European Union (EU), was happy to support the State Government and its people in the area of broadening healthcare.The organisation aims at broadening the health system, strengthening specifically healthcare financing for the benefits of Ndi Anambra.
WHO is proud of some of the products that are coming out of this collaboration and partnership with the state.One significant example is the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme, which is a drive toward universal health coverage because many people will get covered.He maintained that with the scheme, more people would be covered in order to gain access into the healthcare system.
Worst thing that can happen to any community is for its people to fall sick, go to a health facility and the sick person is turned away because they don’t have money.So, we want to reduce the out of pocket expenditure by embracing health insurance as a guarantee, so that whenever a member of a community falls sick he or she is assured of care.”
He encouraged the technical work group to take the meeting very seriously since they also know the ultimate goal of the EU/WHO in the state.According to him, insurance is not expected to restrict people, but those not comfortable with public facility can always go private.The ultimate goal is that we shall deliver the highest attainable standards of health for all of Ndi Anambra and everyone here is a critical stakeholder in realising that vision.”
He, then, pledged the commitment of WHO to the state and also commended participants for their determination in achieving a common goal.Earlier, Mrs Edith Nwachukwu, Head of Planning Research and Statistics said that the technical group was established to look at issues around healthcare financing.By healthcare financing we mean that the units have as part of their mandate to mobilise resources for facilitation of universal health coverage in the state.Members of the group were drawn from different Sectors, Ministries, Agencies, Academia, Auditor general and Chairman House Committee on Health.
