Forum names Toyin Saraki universal health coverage global champion

The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) has named the wife of Senate President, Mrs Toyin Saraki as ‘Global Champion’.

The recognition came on the heel of her high-level advocacy for UHC at 72nd United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States, in September 2017.

At the UN, Saraki advocated the implementation of innovative country and regional initiatives on policy and governance towards strengthening primary healthcare systems and development of health security in Nigeria.

Saraki, who is the Founder and President, Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), in her advocacy, drew upon thirteen years of the foundation’s work to improve health outcomes in Nigeria, across Africa, and around the world.

Speaking on the UHC Day held on 12th December, she said: “We must act to ensure that every person, rich or poor, old or young, living in urban or rural areas, has access to effective, timely and quality healthcare.

The effects of Universal Health Coverage stretch far beyond health outcomes, although we are in dire need of vast improvements in that area. Health security reduces poverty, protects against epidemics, drives economic growth and promotes gender equality.”

Noting that she has been advocating action and investment to make UHC a reality, Saraki hailed progress made in that direction.

According to her, the Legislative Network for Universal Health Coverage, launched in July 2017, with aims of addressing the issue of financing healthcare to reach all Nigerians, and the Senate’s adoption, in November of the one percent Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) is ground breaking.

She however stressed the need to consolidate and build upon these achievements as a matter of urgency.

As UHC Global Champion, Saraki promised to advocate for the benefits of UHC all over the world while always challenging innovators, partners, experts and legislators to prioritise Nigeria, with its burgeoning population and health challenges.

UHC is firmly based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) convention of 1948 that declared health a fundamental human right and on the Health for All agenda set by the Alma Ata declaration in 1978.