AYGF to FG: Adopt universal health coverage for malaria prevention

The Africa Youth Growth Foundation (AYGF) has urged the federal government to adopt Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to enable people access health care without financial restraint. This, Arome Salifu, Executive Director of AYGF, said would afford everyone the right to quality, timely, and affordable services to prevent, detect, and treat malaria. Salifu spoke Wednesday in […]

The Africa Youth Growth Foundation (AYGF) has urged the federal government to adopt Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to enable people access health care without financial restraint.

This, Arome Salifu, Executive Director of AYGF, said would afford everyone the right to quality, timely, and affordable services to prevent, detect, and treat malaria.

Salifu spoke Wednesday in Abuja at a press briefing to commemorate this year’s World Malaria Day.

On engaging communities in health decision-making, he said: “Community needs are best addressed with the involvement of its members, soliciting for buy-in that ensures sustainability after intervention.

“These interventions can only be sustained when community members see the need and drive the course (ownership) transcending in improved results long after the intervention has ended.”

He called on the government to address factors that increase malaria risk, noting that, “Malaria is an ever-growing issue that will continue to affect and spread throughout Nigeria if measures are not put in place.

“Sensitization and awareness campaigns enlighten communities on healthy practices, bringing healthcare closer to the people to prevent malaria and reduce the prevalence of diseases in the country.

“Another approach is to improve access to health care among vulnerable communities through the delivery of affordable health care to hard-to-reach communities.”

While urging partnership, the executive director said: “The change we seek in health care cannot be done alone, that is why as an organization we have identified the need for relevant partnerships that will spread the course of impact beyond communities to the country at large.”

Daily Trust reports that this year, AYGF intends to commemorate World Malaria Day 2024 on Thursday, 25th April in partnership with NMEP and other development partners.

As part of the celebration, the Foundation carried out advocacy and sensitization in designated places of worship on Friday 19th, and Sunday 21st April 2024, while a community outreach was conducted yesterday at LEA Mpape.