The Niger State government has flagged off the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) vulnerable drive with a target of enrolling additional 65,000 vulnerable residents as beneficiaries of the health insurance coverage.
A statement signed by Bologi Ibrahim Chief press secretary to the Governor said the basic healthcare provision fund is a national security initiative by the federal government as a key public financing vehicle established under the National Health Act 2014 to improve access to primary care and it is financed by at least 1% of the Federal Government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund to deliver basic medical services to poor and vulnerable populations.
Flagging off the enrollment drive in Niger State, wife of the farmer governor, Hajiya Fatima Mohammed Bago said, while hospitals and other health facilities are improved, it remains imperative to ensure that people can access the services available within them without financial hardship.
Fatima Bago expressed optimism that the initiative will therefore provide ample opportunity to access essential healthcare services even as she appreciated the tremendous strides recorded by the farmer governor in improving the health sector across the State.
She therefore encouraged traditional and religious leaders, community leaders,health care workers, development partners and the media to help in carrying out sensitization campaigns that will enable more people enrol and benefit from the State’s health care scheme, NiCARE.
The commissioner for health, Dr. Murtala Muhammad Bagana in his remarks described the BHCPF scheme as a vital instrument for expanding healthcare access across the State stressing that, with the dedication of the Niger State Contributory Health Scheme (NiCare) and the support of development partners, more than 121,000 residents have already benefited from essential health services.
Dr. Bagana said, the launch of the enrolment of an additional 65,000 vulnerable persons across the 25 Local Government Areas is another significant step towards achieving Universal Health Coverage as it presents a renewed hope for families who will now have access to essential healthcare without financial hardship.
Executive Secretary and CEO, Niger State Contributory Health Agency, Sulayman Abu-Bakr in his speech said, since the commencement of the Basic Health care provision fund in the State in 2020, a total of 80,230 vulnerable beneficiaries have been enrolled with 298,000 malaria cases treated, 106,000 antenatal visits and 68,000 children immunized.
Abu-Bakr who commended the remarkable efforts of the farmer governor in the health sector said, many vulnerable Nigerlites have not enrolled in the scheme as such, the 65,000 beneficiaries to be added is unprecedented in the State government’s quest to improve the livelihood of the people.
There were goodwill messages from representatives from National Health Insurance Authority, World Bank, Niger State Internal Revenue Service and other development partners who all applauded the State government’s initiatives in the health sector and reassured of their continued support.
Highlights of the event include the formal unveiling of the wife of the farmer governor, Hajiya Fatima Bago as NiCARE ambassador and the inauguration of local government vice chairpersons as health insurance ambassadors.
