Health
THE Association of Catholic Medical Practitioners of Nigeria and Africa Regional Conference have pledged to ensure more persons have access to quality healthcare in the country.
The President of the association, Dr Mathew Ashikeni, said this at the 15th National Conference of the association on Friday in Abuja with the
theme “Universal Health Coverage (UCH) 2030 and Health Security: The role of Catholic Doctors.”
He said that people needed quality healthcare and the association would make this available anywhere they live, work, social or economic status.
Ashikeni added that the association would ensure that people did not suffer financial hardship in the process of accessing medical care.
According to him, COVID-19 might have affected the progress toward UCH by 2030, hence, the need for government agencies concerned to integrate Catholic health institutions and other similar facilities.
He said this was to complement each other in the provision of essential healthcare facilities to all Nigerians.
He added that “the Catholic health services are some of the best in the country and are widespread across
the country, located in some of the remotest parts of the country and providing primary, secondary and
specialists healthcare services.”
He stated that there must be deliberate effort to support the health institutions so as to achieve multiplier effects and ensure that
citizens did not suffer financial hardships.
He explained that this was in consideration of the fact that out-of-pocket payment for healthcare accounts for as high as 76.6 per cent of total expenditure on health, with the poor suffering the most.
Sen. Chukwuka Otase, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Primary Healthcare and Communicable Diseases, who said that
primary healthcare was fundamental in the attainment of UHC, however, added that it remained a major problem in the country.
He noted that if the country got it right, the citizenry would be the better for it.
According to him, Catholic doctors have their base in villages and running hospitals to ensure UHC is achieved. (NAN)
– July 02, 2021 @ 15:28 GMT|
Tags: Catholic doctors pledge quality healthcare
