The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has charged stakeholders in Zamfara to accelerate efforts toward promoting universal health coverage in the state.

Dr Bolanle Olusola-Faleye, the Chief of Party of the USAID-funded Local Health System Sustainability Project (LHSS), gave the charge on Thursday in Kaduna.

Mrs Olusola-Faleye spoke during the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) Gateways Forum and State Oversight Committee meeting for the state.

The USAID-LHSS project is partnering with both federal and state governments to expand sustainable health financing for improved health system performance.

The meeting, organised by the state Ministry of Health with the support of USAID-LHSS, had participants from the health sector within and outside the state.

According to Mrs Olusola-Faleye, Zamfara is among the beneficiaries of the USAID-LHSS project aimed at strengthening the local health system toward achieving universal health coverage.

She said, “You know, this project took off in Nigeria in June 2022 in Nasarawa, Plateau, Zamfara, Kano and Lagos states.

“In the first three states, we supported their governments to expand the financial risk protection to reduce financial barriers and out-of-pocket payment so that the poor and vulnerable can obtain healthcare services without financial hardship.

“We also support the government to increase the coverage of health services, especially for the poor and vulnerable, by supporting effective financial protection health schemes.

“One of our major objectives is to ensure effective implementation of the Basic HealthCare Provision Fund.

“Our focus is to ensure that the fund is being implemented effectively and judiciously at both the State and Federal Government levels.”

Mrs Olusola-Faleye commended the participants at the meeting and urged them to maximise their support and cooperation toward achieving universal health coverage.

“I am highly impressed with the participation of stakeholders, their commitments, dedication and willingness toward achieving the USAID-LHSS project objectives in achieving universal health coverage,” she further said.

Also, the Executive Secretary, Zamfara Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, Dr Abdulkadir Shinkafi, described the LHSS project as a welcome development to the state.

“We achieved a lot in the areas of enrollment and awareness creation as regards universal health coverage.

“We recorded tremendous achievements in our activities for the implementation of Basic HealthCare Provision Funds in the state,” Mr Shinkafi said. 

(NAN)