USAID urges Bauchi to prioritise UHC

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has tasked the Bauchi State Government to prioritise Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to save many poor people from practising out-of-pocket spending on healthcare. 
  
Health Financing Advisor with the USAID-IHP, Khalid Kasimu, made the call, yesterday, in Bauchi, at the presentation of the State Universal Scorecard 2023, organised by Bauchi State Accountability Mechanism for Maternal Newborn and Child Health (BaSAM).
  
The expert urged the state to make healthcare facilities more accessible, affordable and provide quality service.Also, BaSAM commended the state for complying with the 15 per cent budget allocation to the health sector, while constructing and renovating healthcare facilities across the state.
  
It, however, urged the Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA) to make adequate budgetary provision to improve child spacing contraceptives.

BaSAM further tasked the government to improve on timely release of budgetary funds to the health sector – particularly family planning and equity funds for enrolment of vulnerable populations.