UHC Day 2020: Medical Experts, Stakeholders Tasks FG on Youth Inclusiveness in Health Committees, Decision Making Bodies
AREWA AGENDA – Prominent Medical Personalities, stakeholders and Health related Non Governmental Organizations have tasked the Federal Government to include Youths in it’s Health Committees and decision making organs.
They spoke Saturday during the World Universal Health Coverage Day 2020 Celebration held at Belmont Hotel in Abuja.
Themed: Health Care for All; the Impact of COVID-19 on Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria, the stakeholders urged the Ministry of Health in particular to give a maximum consideration for active inclusive of youth and provision of seats for young people in major Health sector Committee.
Speaking at the occasion, Dr Aminu Magashi Garba, Founder of African Health Budget Network and the Patron of Nigeria Youth Champion For Universal Health Coverage(NYC4UHC) said President Muhammad Buhari and political actors should note that such action is key to national development and accountability.
Dr. Magashi also appealed to the Federal Government to give robust access to the 20 million Covid-19 Vaccine coming into Nigeria by first quarter of the year 2021 to young people.
Read Also:
On her part, the communication lead of NYC4UHC, Oyeyemi Pitan demanded for provision of seats and active inclusion of young people in the relevant health committee such as the Covid-19 Presidential Task Force, Ministerial Technical Working Groups, Immunization Expert Review Committee, Covid-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee among others.
The founder of Vaccine Network for Diseases Control, Mrs Chika Ofor reiterated that UHC is the ability to access the quality health care without breaking the bank or facing any financial hardship, “Accessing quality health care system is your right not a privilege.” She said.
Nigerian Youth Champion for Universal health Coverage made their final recommendation at the event by calling on the Federal and State Government to ensure functioning water system in all primary Health care across the country, accessible quality health care system and “allowing young people to have seat in the respective Committee.”
On 12 December 2012, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously endorsed a resolution urging countries to accelerate progress toward universal health coverage (UHC), the ideas that everyone, everywhere should have access to quality, affordable health care as an essential priority for international development.
In 2014, the Universal Health Coverage Coalition started to celebrate 12 December as UHC Day, to commemorate the date on which the UN General Assembly officially recognised the importance of UHC. Since then, the day has become the annual rallying point for the growing global movement for Health for All.
Arewa Agenda is a Publication of Young writers/journalist from Northern Nigeria towards Peaceful Coexistence and National Development through positive narratives
