WHO says around million people are still pushed into extreme poverty because of health expenses. [Photo/softkenya.com]The World Health Organization has challenged countries to roll out Universal Health coverage to reduce the impoverishment associated with payment for health services.In a statement on its website on Tuesday, WHO said 100 million people are still pushed into extreme poverty because of health expenses.“Protecting people from the financial consequences of paying for health services out of their own pockets reduces the risk that people will be pushed into poverty,” the statement reads.It adds: “Unexpected illness requires them to use up their life savings, sell assets, or borrow, destroying their futures and often those of their children.”Universal health means all individuals and communities receive health services they need without suffering financial hardship. It includes essential, quality health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care.More than 800 million people (almost 12 percent of the world’s population) spend at least 10 percent of their household budgets to pay for health care.The global agency noted many countries are already making progress towards universal health. Achieving universal health coverage is one of the targets the nations of the world set when adopting the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, states the Star.All UN member states have agreed to try to achieve universal health coverage by 2030, as part of SDGs.The global agency’s primary role is to direct international health within the United Nations’ system and leads partners in global health responses.

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