By Funmi Ojo
As the world marks Universal Health Coverage, UHC, Day, stakeholders across the health sector are renewing calls for stronger action to ensure that every individual have access to quality healthcare without financial hardship.
This year’s global theme, “Unaffordable health costs? We’re sick of it”, highlights the growing burden of rising medical expenses on families, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria.
Stakeholders, including residents of Osogbo, Osun State, lament treatment costs for common illnesses, limited health insurance coverage, long distances to facilities, and inadequate health workers especially for rural and vulnerable populations.
Also, a senior nurse at a private healthcare centre in Osun State, Mrs. Kemi Olabanji, emphasized the urgency of addressing affordability and access gaps.
In his own submission, a health analyst, Mr. Joshua Oladeni called for expanded coverage of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, sustained investment in primary healthcare centres, and effective implementation of state health insurance schemes.
This year’s theme is a reminder that the world is still far from achieving universal access to care, while the global message remains clear, health systems must be people-centred, fair, and financially accessible.
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