Gov’t extends Universal Health Coverage scheme to NW, SW.

The information was made public on August 5, by the Minister of Public Health, Dr Manaouda Malachie, in prelude to the launch of the scheme for the two English-speaking regions of the country.

He was speaking during a press conference at the Technical Unit of the Universal Health Coverage scheme at the Etoug Ebe neighbourhood, Yaounde VI Subdivision, Mfoundi Division of the Centre Region.

According to the minister, the extension of the scheme to the North West and South West regions will bring to seven the number of regions where the scheme is fully effective.

The member of government noted that the North West and South West regions are joining the queue when so much has been achieved already as far as the health voucher is concerned in the country.

“The extension of the health voucher scheme to the North West and South West regions is a decisive phase in the implementation of Phase I of the Universal Health Coverage scheme. Its main objective is to improve health indicators for pregnant women and children in these two regions, as they have in the East, Far North, North and South regions,” the minister said.

According to the minister, with this new phase done, the national coverage is set to rise from 50% to 70%. 

The aim, he said, is to achieve a nationwide coverage over the next few years, depending on the progress made in implementing the project and the removal of certain legal, financial and social constraints. 

The extension of the health scheme, he added, will consolidate this health policy, which was inaugurated on April 12, 2023 and is proving its worth in the field, with figures that speak.

The minister during the presser noted that in terms of promotion and prevention, over three million people have been pre-registered and over two million fully enrolled. 

He disclosed that thanks to the scheme, thousands of children, new born and pregnant women have been able to receive vaccines, deparasitics (mebendazole), and IPT for pregnant women.

On the curative front, 642,090 children received free consultations, and 364,324 children aged zero-five were treated free of charge for simple and severe malaria. 

In addition, some 346,395 pregnant women underwent antenatal care right up to delivery, at a cost of just 6,000 FCFA. A total of 140,416 deliveries were carried out free of charge, including 7,066 caesarean sections. In addition, 57,384 dialysis sessions were carried out.

These results, the minister reiterated are the fruit of the government’s combined efforts to guarantee equitable and universal access to health care and services. 

The country’s public health boss minister equally made known government’s determination to strengthen the technical health form through preventive and curative healthcare for its population.

He noted that over 9.5 million FCFA has been set aside as budget for the first phase of the scheme as a huge consignment of machines have been purchased and installed at the different health care units.

Also, 18 oxygen production plants are currently being implanted in the regions, with a hundred medical ambulances to be provided to the different health facilities in the day ahead.

These essential health services, the member of government insisted is a demonstration of government’s eminence to curb maternal and infantry mortality among its population and to strengthen the technical health form in the country.

Stakeholders tasked to get involved

According to the minister, despite the fact that the Universal Health Coverage scheme is well underway, it requires the involvement of all stakeholders, including media professionals, to provide good information on the phase I of the scheme.

He equally called on them to raise awareness among all concerned, in order to perpetuate and, better still, maximise public support. Recall that the Universal Health Coverage scheme covers preventive, promotional and curative aspects. 

It targets children under five, pregnant women and people of all ages suffering from specific pathologies, including tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and renal failure.

This story was first Published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3192 of Wednesday August 07, 2024