Assessment of the Impact of Capacity Building and Other Activities Organized by WAHO on Universal Health Coverage (UHC), in Nigeria
Abuja, Nigeria, 20-24 May 2019 – Since 2012, WAHO has conducted some activities towards improving the implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Activities include capacity building and support in Health Accounts (HA), UHC, Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) as well as the progress review. In order to assess impact of such activities on national health systems, the Professional Officer Planning for WAHO, Mr. Sani Ali, conducted a field visit in Abuja, Nigeria from 20 to 24 May, 2019.
From interactions with stakeholders involved in the activities, it appeared that Nigeria has bridged the gap in developing HA from 2009 to 2017 and is regularly producing such Accounts. Findings from HA are critical in raising awareness on Universal Health Coverage. Indeed from 2017 HA findings, households are contributing 77.6% of current health expenditure through Out Of Pocket (OOP) and 44% of expenditure are on malaria.
Trainees and participants in other activities on UHC contributed to the development of the key following documents: Health Financing Policy and Strategy, Operations Manual of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) and are supporting the States in establishing their States’ Social Health Insurance Schemes (SSHIS) with 35 States having drafted their SSHIS Bills and 30 bills passed.
Some projects are in pipeline to be developed towards PPP framework.
Overall, Nigeria is on track in developing Health Accounts and efforts made towards implementing Universal Health Coverage translated in financial resources (1% of the Federation Consolidated revenue) released for the implementation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) with focus on reproductive, maternal, child, adolescent health plus nutrition, Non-communicable diseases screening and Emergency services.