African christians unveil universal health coverage plan
By Aderogba George
The 11th Biennial Conference of the Africa Christian Health Association Platform (ACHAP) commenced in Abuja, with the Christian Health Association of Nigeria (CHAN) playing host.
The event, titled “The Journey to Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Africa: Experiences and Lessons from Faith Communities,” kicked off on February 26 and garnered support from several international organisations.
They include; CORUS International, Christian Connection for International Health (CCIH), IMA World Health, and Inter-Church Medical System.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the primary objective of the conference is to delve into the prevailing health issues affecting Africa.
The participants aim to formulate viable solutions while mapping out strategies to enhance healthcare services for the population.
Mr Daniel Speckhard, the President/Chief Executive Officer of CORUS International, emphasised the necessity of improving organisational capacities for Africa to successfully achieve UHC.
He highlighted the deployment of assessment tools to enable organisations to evaluate their performance objectively and address areas requiring improvement.
In discussions surrounding “North to South Collaboration and Its Role in Localisation,” Speckhard encouraged local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to collaborate closely.
He stressed the significance of overcoming challenges in the health sector and urged NGOs not to be deterred, emphasising that challenges are global and can be addressed collaboratively.
Sylvester Akande, the Health Finance Specialist for USAID Nigeria, took the stage to discuss “Enhancing Access and Coverage of UHC Through Localisation.”
He called upon African governments to take meaningful actions promptly to meet UHC goals by 2030.
Acknowledging local challenges with local solutions, Akande expressed USAID’s commitment to directing funding and decision-making towards local partners for effective UHC implementation.
The conference served as a pivotal platform for comprehensive discussions on healthcare challenges, fostering collaboration, and advocating for tangible actions to enhance access and coverage of UHC in Africa. (NAN) www.nannews.ng
Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu
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