FCTA committed to attainment of universal health coverage ― Perm Sec

THE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has expressed determination to attain Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through the provision of free basic healthcare services to the poor and vulnerable residents of the territory.

The FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr Chinyeaka Ohaa, stated this at the inauguration of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) at the Kuchigoro Primary Health Care Centre in Abuja on Wednesday.

Ohaa explained that the primary purpose of the BHCPF was to support the effective delivery of primary healthcare services and the provision of Basic Minimum Package of Health Services.

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He said the fund also covered emergency medical treatment through adequate and sustainable funding that would be efficiently and equitably used to provide health services.

According to him, the FCTA has met all the eligibility criteria stipulated for the enrollment and operationalisation of the fund.

“With the launch of the basic health care provision fund in the FCT today, all residents are eligible to enrol to access the basic minimum package of health services.

“These include free antenatal care delivery and postnatal care for all pregnant women, immunisation, malaria, pneumonia, measles and dysentery treatment for children less than five years and malaria treatment, among others.

“The march toward UHC is achievable and I urge all residents of the FCT to seize the opportunity provided by this initiative and enrol to access the basic health minimum package of services.”

The acting Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Care Board, Dr Ndaeyo Iwot, lauded the inauguration of the programme.

He said with the initiation of the programme, access to primary healthcare services for the first time in 30 years had come under one roof and one basket.

Ndaeyo said that the programme would be implemented in 62 primary healthcare centres in the FCT.

He, therefore, called for collaboration between communities and the primary healthcare centres to ensure the success of the programme.

The Esu Kwali, Alhaji Sha’aban Nizazo, thanked the FCT administration for the programme and promised that royal fathers in the territory would ensure its success.