Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, has called for increase in the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) from current one per cent to five per cent.

The BHCPF fund is a Nigerian financing initiative established by the National Health Act of 2014 to deliver free and basic healthcare services to the poorest and most vulnerable populations.

The funding is at least one per cent of the Federal Government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund and donors support.

Ugwu, who is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, made the call on Thursday while delivering the 251st Inaugural Lecture of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

The lecture, which was titled: “The Mother, the Child and the State: My Triumphant Journey from Evidence to Action,” was delivered at the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC).

Ugwu, said that increase in the fund had became imperative following withdrawal of funding for basic healthcare by some countries and international donors.

“The existing funding from the one per cent from the Federal Government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund and donor support had gone a long way in assisting states put their primary healthcare centre in optimal condition.

“However, there is concern that as donor countries, agencies and organizations are pulling out their funding support; there is a need to shore up existing funding.

“The anticipated increased funding, would take adequate care of the perceived and anticipated gaps to be created by pulling out of donors,” he said.

He said that the Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), which thousands are scattered nationwide, holds the key to health of majority of pregnant women and children in the country.

He added that the state or government should ensure it is built to be resilient, equipped, accessible and deliver measurable and quality healthcare services.

“This will ensure that healthcare issues are dealt with early with less resources at the grassroots and reduce health burden at secondary and tertiary levels as well as on the government,” he said.

Ugwu noted that there was a need for more health advocacy and education to sharpen understanding of health issues and how to live healthy lifestyle “since prevention is better than cure”.

The commissioner also advocated for the practice of universal health coverage through adoption of health insurance scheme and practices.

“On this, a little health insurance premium payment can cover ones health for a year and such gesture can be extended to family members, people in rural communities and indigents.

“As in Enugu State, where our health-loving governor, Dr Peter Mbah, is ensuring a newly-built and functional PHC in each of 260 political wards, the insurance will ensure optimisation and accessibility of these facilities.

“We are also advocating that wealthy and influencer people adopt a PHC within their wards or communities to ensure their monitoring, supervision and at times intervention to ensure optimal running and delivery,” he said.

Ugwu also highlighted key research breakthroughs throughout his career, detailing how empirical data collected in hospital wards and rural health centres informed state and national policy guidelines and community intervention programmes.