Hon.Habib Umar, Lawmaker, representing Kirfi local government state constituency has pledged to enroll 50 constituency from the vulnerable population in the state Health Contributory scheme to towards achieving Universal Health Coverage(UHC).
Umar made the disclosure at a one day Dissemination at the Bauchi state Universal Health Coverage Score card held on Tuesday in Bauchi.
The scorecard was developed by a coalition named Bauchi State Accountability Mechanism for Maternal,Newborn and Child Health(BaSAM) and supported by United State Agency for International Development (USAID)Integrated Health Program(IHP).
The document has three components that includes,Service delivery, Quality Improvement and Health financing.
The UHC scorecard was developed for the period of January to June,2023.
The lawmaker, who is also the chairman,house committee on appropriation said that the committee would prioritize budget allocation of the health sector and ensure judicious use of funds in the state.
However,Mr Khalid Kasimu,Health financing Advisor, USAID- IHP, urged the state government to consider additional focal Primary Healthcare Centres(PHC) to reduce the burden of transportation cost in achieving Universal Health Coverage(UHC) in Bauchi state.
“Although,IMPACT project is adding 323 facilities to the existing 323 focus PHC.
“Yet the transportation fare is affecting access to care
“It has also a barrier to maternal and child health, it means that more vulnerable population needs to be enroll in the state health scheme,”he said.
In his keynote address,Dr Sambo Umar,Commissioner for Health in the state,reiterates the commitment of the State government in providing quality care to the populace.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary not of the ministry , Mr Ali Babayo appreciated the coalition for developing the scorecard,adding that it would provide insight on access to healthcare.
Similarly,Mr Abdulkadir Ahmed, managing Director, Bauchi State Drugs and Medical Consumables Management Agency, appealed that commodities availability in facilities be added the various components of the scorecard.