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WHO hails Malawi on UHC

World Health Organisation (WHO) acting representative Fabian Ndenzako hailed Malawi’s progress towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC), a concept that seeks to ensure all Malawians access essential and quality health services without facing financial hardship.

Mwansambo: We are doing well

He said this on Friday in Lilongwe during the commemoration of the World Health Day held under the theme Universal Health Coverage.

Said Ndenzako: “Malawi has the right vision and governance, and the country realised the need to move towards UHC much earlier than other countries. In 2017, Malawi already had a guiding document which all partners and stakeholders are rallying behind to implement and ensure that UHC in Malawi is realised. Of course, there is room for improvement.”

Ministry of Health chief of health services Charles Mwansambo said government is doing well in efforts to achieve UHC.

He said: “90 percent of the population is now within a walking distance of about eight kilometres to health facilities. So, as government, we are doing everything possible to cater to the 10 percent that have to walk longer distances to access health care.”

On her part, United Nations resident coordinator Maria Jose Torres said UHC is a key target in the health-related Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number three.

World Health Day is celebrated on April 7 which is also the day WHO was established in 1948. n

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