Agency Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged the church to take the lead in making quality and affordable healthcare accessible to Nigerians. Jonathan said this in his keynote address at the maiden edition of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion Health Summit in Abuja on Wednesday. The former President, who was represented by the former Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, Prof.
John-Kennedy Opara, highlighted the church’s historical contributions to the health and education sectors. While reflecting on the 2014 Ebola crisis, Jonathan acknowledged the bravery of healthcare workers, like Dr Stella Adadevoh, who lost their lives in the line of duty. He also acknowledged the passage of the National Health Act signed into law during his administration, which he said had significantly improved healthcare access for millions of Nigerians.
“The National Health Act 2014 established a framework for the provision of essential health services, the management of health resources, and the protection of patients’ rights. “Today, over 10 million Nigerians across our various states have access to health insurance provided by the various state social health insurance schemes,” he said. According to him, despite the progress, gaps remain, therefore calling “on the Anglican Church to spearhead health insurance enrollment and bridge disparities in healthcare access.
” He urged faith-based organisations to leverage their community influence to .