Mrs Toyin Saraki, the wife of Senate President Bukola Saraki, has been named a Global Champion at the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Forum being conveyed in Tokyo, Japan from December 12-15.
Mrs Saraki is the Founder-President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), which advocates for maternal, newborn and child health in Africa.
The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Forum is a multi-national body that seeks to “stimulate global and country-level progress towards UHC, including pandemic preparedness, through the joint review of UHC progress and sharing of country experiences.”
The UHC Forum was borne out of the historic December 12, 2012 resolution of the United Nations urging all countries to accelerate progress toward universal health coverage as an essential priority for international development.
The UHC Forum in Tokyo is bringing together over 300 high-level policymakers, including heads of state and ministers of health and finance to tackle challenges facing UHC in the world.
The Forum coincides with Universal Health Coverage Day, which takes place on 12th December, each year.
Saraki was bestowed with the recognition following her high-level advocacy for UHC at the 72nd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, in September. She had advocated for the implementation of innovative country and regional initiatives on policy and governance, working towards strengthening primary healthcare systems and the development of health security in Nigeria. The advocacy drew upon thirteen years of her organization’s work to improve health outcomes in Nigeria, across Africa, and around the world.
She said, “As a Global Universal Health Coverage Champion, I will advocate for the benefits of UHC all over the world – but always challenge innovators, partners, experts and legislators to prioritise Nigeria, with its burgeoning population and health challenges.”