IMPERATIVE OF UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND AFRICA’S AGENDA 2063 (1) [current concerns 2-004]

 current concerns 2-004

IMPERATIVE OF UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND AFRICA’S AGENDA 2063 (1)

-by Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje / +2347015530362 (WhatsApp) / druzoadirieje2015@gmail.com

 

I. Background and Introduction

The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) which means ensuring that everyone can access essential, quality health services without financial hardship, is foundational to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, “The Africa We Want.” UHC accelerates progress on health-specific outcomes (SDG 3) and catalyzes gains across other SDGs regarding poverty reduction, education, gender equality, decent work, innovation, and reduced inequalities. For Africa, where health, demographic growth, climate vulnerability, and economic transformation intersect, UHC is both a moral imperative and a strategic investment in human capital.

 

II. What we know:

1. UHC is the delivery vehicle for SDG 3 and a multiplier for at least 11 other SDGs, while directly advancing Agenda 2063’s Aspirations on inclusive growth, people-driven development, and healthy, well-nourished citizens.

2. Primary Health Care (PHC) is the most efficient pathway to UHC—providing first-contact, person-centered, community-rooted services that integrate prevention, promotion, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care.

3. Financial protection through prepayment and pooling is indispensable to end catastrophic health spending and impoverishment due to out-of-pocket (OOP) payments.

4. Strategic purchasing, quality improvement, health workforce expansion, and digital transformation are levers that simultaneously improve outcomes and efficiency.

5. Climate-resilient, gender-responsive, and rights-based health systems are essential to withstand shocks, protect vulnerable populations, and leave no one behind.

 

III. Defining UHC and Why It Matters Now

Universal Health Coverage means that all people receive the health services they need, of sufficient quality to be effective, without exposing them to financial hardship. It covers the full continuum of care including health promotion, disease prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care. UHC relies on strong PHC as the organizing principle.

In Africa, this imperative is sharpened by:

a. Persistent dual burden of communicable diseases (e.g., malaria, TB, HIV) and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs);

b. Persisting high out-of-pocket expenditure;

c. Rapid urbanization and demographic change;

d. Climate and humanitarian shocks; and

e. Opportunity to harness a youthful population for a demographic dividend.

Hence, UHC enables inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development by building healthy populations who learn, work, innovate, and contribute to shared prosperity.

 

IV. UHC as an Accelerator for the SDGs

While sitting at the heart of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being, specifically targets 3.8.1 (service coverage index) and 3.8.2 (financial protection), UHC’s spillover effects are far-reaching, including:

a. SDG 1 (No Poverty): Ending catastrophic OOP spending prevents medical impoverishment and protects household assets.

b. SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Integrating nutrition, RMNCAH, and social protection within PHC reduces stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies.

c. SDG 4 (Quality Education): Healthy children learn better; school health programmes reduce absenteeism and improve learning outcomes.

d. SDG 5 (Gender Equality): UHC packages that include sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and protection from GBV empower women and girls.

e. SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Joint WASH–PHC action lowers diarrhoeal disease and AMR risk, reinforcing community health.

f. SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Healthier workers boost productivity; health sector expansion creates decent jobs, especially for youth and women.

g. SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure): Local manufacturing of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics strengthens supply security and drives innovation.

h. SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Progressive financing and targeted service delivery reduce geographic, gender, and socioeconomic health gaps.

i. SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): UHC-oriented urban primary care addresses pollution, road safety, and mental health in growing cities.

j. SDG 13 (Climate Action): Climate-resilient health systems manage heat stress, vector shifts, floods, and drought-related health impacts.

k. SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): Transparent, accountable health governance builds trust and social cohesion.

l. SDG 17 (Partnerships): UHC mobilizes multi-sector, public–private, and community partnerships.

 

V. UHC and Africa’s Agenda 2063

Agenda 2063 articulates a vision of a prosperous, integrated, and peaceful Africa. UHC directly advances the following ‘Aspirations’ of Agenda 2063:

a. Aspiration 1: A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development—through healthy, productive populations and human capital formation.

b. Aspiration 3: An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law—through rights-based access to essential services and accountability mechanisms.

c. Aspiration 6: An Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children—through equitable access to quality care and SRHR.

Also, UHC aligns with flagship initiatives on industrialization, digital transformation, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and African Medicines Agency (AMA), enabling regional value chains in health and strengthening regulatory harmonization for quality and safety.

….. to be continued

 

Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje is a seasoned consultant with extensive expertise in global health, development planning, project management, sustainable development goals (SDGs), governance, health/community systems strengthening, policy advocacy, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E). He provides high-level consultancy services to governments, UN agencies, international organizations, NGOs, and development partners across Africa, leveraging over 25 years of multidisciplinary experience across Africa and the Global South. He was the Chair of Nigeria’s national World Malaria Day Committee in 2019; National President and fellow of the Nigerian Association of Evaluators (NAE) during 2019 – 2022; and Chair of the Resource Mobilization sub-committee of Nigeria’s national World Tuberculosis Day Committee in 2025.