A 2-day pre-summit technical workshop for the preparation of the Presidential Summit on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) with the theme, ‘Universal Health Coverage, The Vehicle for sustainable Growth and Development’ has opened in Abuja.

Declaring the Workshop opened, the Honorable Minister of Health, Professor C.O Onyebuchi Chukwu, noted that the theme of the workshop captures government’s belief in the centrality of a healthy population to the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Minister therefore challenged the experts on health to chart the way forward and ‘fast-track the achievement of UHC in Nigeria’ and come up with clear recommendations to improve access to healthcare at all levels of society during the deliberations.

The pre-summit technical workshop which is scheduled for 7th -8th March, 2014 was attended by distinguished personalities including the Minister of State for Health, the Chairman of Senate committee on health and the WR, Dr Rui Vaz among others.

Some of the key outcomes expected from the Summit include achievement of the highest political commitment, provision of a platform for mass mobilization of Nigerians for health and garnering commitment to increase funding for health, access to financial risk protection schemes and efficient use of available funds.

The event is however expected to reach its crescendo with the Presidential Summit on Monday, 10 March, during which the output of the technical sessions will be presented to the President and State Governors, as well as other high level politicians. A Declaration on Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria will also be presented for the President to take forward to the National Economic Council.