President Muhammadu Buhari has urged member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to embrace the global agenda on Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

The president described UHC as a critical element that required recommitment for increased people-centered investment in sustainable health development.

Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, made the call on Friday in Abuja during the 22 Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Health Ministers of ECOWAS.

The Ordinary Session of West African Health Organisation, (WAHO), is an annual meeting by the 15 member states.

The meeting is to enable them to brainstorm on health-related issues in the region and how the region can surmount future pandemics.

The president noted that embracing UHC by member states would strengthen the manpower base in the health sector, infrastructure and laboratory capacities within and across ECOWAS borders.

“And to diagnose and address the critical health issues of maternal, child and adolescent health in the region.”

He stressed that the year 2020 exposed the fragility of global health systems, as it did nationally and regionally, with consequences that were still with the region in the form of land borders, which remained fully or partially closed.

“In this regard, I wish to also acknowledge the strategic role of the Regional Center for Surveillance and Diseases Control (RCSDC), an agency of WAHO, established by the 47th ECOWAS Authority of Heads of state in 2015.

“And the urgent need for it to be endowed with requisite human and financial resources to facilitate efficient operations and execution of its mandate as ECOWAS public health institution,” he explained.