Strengthen, expand UHC to assist poor Nigerians, Ex-minister tells govt

<p>The Former Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has called on government and corporate organizations to strengthen and expand the reach and number of diseases being treated in the Universal Healthcare Coverage, UHC.</p>, <p>“This move will greatly assist millions of poor people access quality and essential healthcare, which their out of pockets expenditure cannot cover,” Adewole said on Thursday in an opening remark at the 2023 Amaka Chiwuike-Uba International Asthma Conference, ACUBIAC 2023.</p>, <p>The Conference, which the Amaka Chiwuike-Uba Foundation organized, ACUF, is themed: “COVID-19 and the Future in the Past: Health Financing and Universal Health Coverage”.</p>, <p>Adewole, who Dr Innocent Ugwu represented, said that due to increasing poverty, it was becoming difficult for most poor people and homes to take care of their health, especially those within rural communities.</p>, <p>The minister also appreciated the Chairman and Board of ACUF for organizing the conference and pushing the narrative of an all-inclusive healthcare agenda.</p>, <p>In an address, Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State commended the Foundation for its stride in empowerment as well as healthcare awareness and education within the state.</p>, <p>Mbah, represented by Dr Ifeanyi Agujiobi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, said that the state had passed the UHC bill into law and had commenced enrolment of residents into the UHC scheme.</p>, <p>“We have already enrolled 150,000 residents in the state’s UHC scheme, and we are planning to expand the coverage more,” he said.</p>, <p>The governor noted that the state government had been putting initiatives and programmes to enhance the health and well-being of the residents, especially those aimed at reducing the health and financial burden of families.</p>, <p>Earlier, Dr Uche Ojinmah, President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), assured of the association’s continuous partnership with the foundation as it champions universal access to quality health for all Nigerians.</p>,