By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, has called for stronger political will, increased financing, and broad collaboration across Nigeria’s health sector to accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Speaking through Paul Agboola, Medical Director of Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, at the 36th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Resident Doctors, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Salako described UHC as a “moral commitment” to ensure equitable and affordable healthcare for all Nigerians.
He noted persistent challenges, including shortages of skilled workers, poorly equipped facilities, limited access to medicines, and uneven maternal and child health outcomes.
Salako highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to expand maternal and child health services, strengthen immunisation, revitalise primary healthcare, and deploy 774 trained “Healthcare Champions” to local governments nationwide.
He urged private sector involvement, sustainable health financing, ethical service delivery, and adoption of digital health innovations.
Commending Ogun State’s expanded Health Insurance Scheme, Salako stressed that government action alone is insufficient and called for united efforts from all stakeholders.
