As his visit to Nigeria ends, WHO DG drums support for universal health coverage and health workers in crisis situations
The Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has described Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as a down payment on a fairer, safer and more prosperous future.
He said this in Abuja, Nigeria while speaking at the ThisDay Healthcare Policy Dialogue Series 2.
“The question therefore is not whether countries can afford to invest in their health systems; the question is whether they can afford not to … Universal Health Coverage is not just an investment in a healthier future; it’s a down payment on a fairer, safer & more prosperous future,” Dr Tedros said.
According to him, UHC is more than just health insurance, more than just health care.
“Health For All means ensuring people get quality health services, where and when they need them, without suffering financial hardship,” said Tedros.
He had earlier submitted that health coverage and health security are two sides of the same coin.
“We must enable systems, make a down payment for a fair and prosperous future.”
He then launched the official logo of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, called HUWE.
WHO DG visits Borno, Nigeria
In a related development, Dr Tedros also visited the camp for internally displaced persons in Borno, Nigeria where he thanked and declared WHO’s support for healthcare workers in the state and elsewhere that workers are providing services under difficult circumstances and promises.
Nearly 7 million people are living in camps for internally displaced people (IDP) in northeastern Nigeria. In emergency settings, WHO recently said the rate of common mental disorders can double. Gender based violence, abductions, and gross atrocities can trigger psychological problems which take years to heal. WHO estimates that as many as 1 in 5 people in IDP camps may need mental health care.
“WHO’s top priority is to help save lives and prevent sickness among those affected by the crisis in Nigeria. We must ensure no one is left behind,” he said “Borno will be back,” Dr Tedros added.