(SLENA, 13th December, 2022).According to World Health Organization, Sierra Leone made appreciable improvements on all UHC indicators amidst global disruption of essential healthcare services in 92% of countries leaving almost 2 billion people facing impoverished health spending.
Making her keynote speech, the Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation Madam Princess Dugba said, Universal health coverage means that all people have access to the health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship. It includes the full range of essential health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care.
She added that, to make health for all a reality, we need individuals and communities who have access to high quality health services so that they take care of their own health and the health of their families; skilled health workers providing quality, people-centred care; and policy-makers committed to investing in universal health coverage.
“Universal health coverage should be based on strong, people-centred primary health care. Good health systems are rooted in the communities they serve. They focus not only on preventing and treating disease and illness, but also on helping to improve well-being and quality of life”.
Madam Dugba added that, approximately half the world’s population lacks access to such essential health services. Therefore, to achieve SDG target 3.8 of Universal Health Coverage for all by 2030, at least 1 billion more people will need to have access to essential health services in each five-year period between 2015 and 2030.
The essence of UHC is universal access to a strong and resilient people-centred health system with primary care as its foundation. Community-based services, health promotion and disease prevention are key components as well as immunization, which constitutes a strong platform for primary care upon which UHC needs to be built.
The event concluded with the Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation, Madam Princess Dugba, launched the Sierra Leone National Health Accounts 2019-2020 and the final report of the 2022 National Health Summit and Recognition Awards.
