Extend National Health Insurance Program To Other Citizens

By Florence Adewale

Stakeholders in the health sector have been called upon to scale up and extend the National Health Insurance program to other citizens of Nigeria, particularly the poor and most vulnerable in the society.

The FCT Cordinator for the Control of Tuberculosis, Mr. Nathaniel Salifu who made the call at a media parley in Abuja explained that the poor are often less educated and unemployed, hence lack the ability to pay out-of-pocket for the high costs associated with frequent illnesses therefore the National Health Insurance if extended to them will go a long way to reduce avoidable deaths.

Salifu also explained that funding and finances for efficient Primary Health Care delivery should be able to carefully map out and sanction any form of mismanagement.

According to him, a robust public health program at all levels especially in local governments remains a key component that would improve the health care of the citizenry.

Salifu solicited Community involvement to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of Primary Health Centres.

According to Salifu “The ATM Networks (NEPWHAN, ACOMIN TB Network) has worked with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) on the COVID-19 Response Mechanism Resilience and Sustainable System Health (C19RM/RSSH) Grant, to address gaps in the health system for sustainable, efficient and effective health outcomes, as well as to ensure that CSOs, are integrated into the healthcare response, such that all contribute their quotas.

He said “This health system strengthening program which was being funded by the Global Fund under their C 19 response mechanism had yielded a lot of results.

In their good will messages, Stakeholders from the FCT Health Promotion Department, Mrs Deborah Azeez and Salamatu Abdulsalam pledged continuous support to community based organisations assisting government in Primary Healthcare Centres across the Territory to ensure adequate preventative measures were taken to prevent avoidable illnesses.

Also the Deputy Programme Manager, Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Unit, FCT Public Health Department, Mohammed Nurudeen said the FCT administration remains committed to work with well meaning organisations that would support its efforts especially at the grassroots on TB cases and other diseases.

Edited By Grace Namiji