Stakeholders Warn Insecurity and Workforce Shortage Threaten Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria
Stakeholders in Nigeria's health sector have raised concerns about the significant challenges facing the country's pursuit of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). During the 4th Annual Scientific Conference of the College of Health Sciences at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, experts highlighted issues such as persistent insecurity, a severe shortage of healthcare workers, inadequate funding, and weak constitutional provisions as major obstacles. Dr. Faruk Abubakar, Sokoto State Commissioner for Health, noted the uneven distribution of health workers, with urban centers having more staff compared to rural areas. Efforts to address these issues include a two-year compulsory service policy for health professionals trained on state scholarships and the renovation of healthcare facilities. Former House of Representatives member Dr. Shehu Kakale emphasized the need for constitutional reforms to make healthcare a fundamental right, while other speakers pointed out the impact of insecurity on healthcare delivery,... 
