WHO Urges FG To Increase Investment In Health Sector To Reduce Burden On Citizens

The World Health Organisation, WHO, has said that out-of-pocket expenditure on health in Nigeria is still above seventy percent.

WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Mulombo, who disclosed this at the Ministerial Press Conference to mark the Global Universal Health Coverage, UHC, Day, appreciated the Federal Government for its giant strides in the health sector.

It expresses hope that the federal government will significantly increase investment in the health sector so as to relieve households of the heavy burden of out-of-pocket expenditure on health.

According to the WHO Representative, the theme “Leave no one behind, invest in health systems for all” is a call on countries to invest more in health systems towards achieving UHC as well as take cognizance of evidence-based decisions and practical steps in population coverage on essential health services, and financial protection from poverty due to illness and access to healthcare.

He stressed that the call is particularly more imperative considering the ongoing global struggle to stem the tides of the COVID-19 pandemic and Nigeria not only faces the challenge of communicable diseases with high burdens of HIV, Tuberculosis, Malaria, and Respiratory Tract Infections but have increasing cases of non-communicable diseases including Hypertension, Diabetes, and Cancers.

Dr. Mulombo commended the goodwill of President Buhari in championing health reforms by commissioning the Presidential Health Sector Reform Committee which according to him, is a unique opportunity that must be leveraged on.

The WHO Representative, promised that the WHO in Nigeria will continue to provide evidence-based technical support and expertise to the government and people to achieve the highest health outcomes they desire.