By Aliyu Muraki, Lafia
The Nasarawa State Health Insurance Agency, NASHIA, says it has registered more than 362,000 enrollees under the universal health coverage in the state.
Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr. Yahaya Bawa Ubam, disclosed this while fielding questions from newsmen in Lafia, the state capital.
Dr. Ubam said the agency is targeting more than 500,000 indigenes within five years, by 2027, to achieve universal health coverage in the state.
According to him, the agency has expanded its facilities and activities to all three geopolitical zones to capture more beneficiaries and improve the health status of citizens in the state.
Dr. Ubam said people with special needs and other vulnerable groups, under the federal and state governments’ Basic Health Care Provision Fund and the state government equity fund programme, have free and compulsory medical bills.
He said the federal government’s Basic Health Care Provision Fund has enrolled more than 82,000 Nasarawa citizens, while the state government equity fund has about 22,000 indigenes engaged in the programme.
The executive secretary said 97% of state civil servants, including local government workers, were enrolled in the programme, adding that civil servants pay 3% of their monthly salary to cover the cost.
Dr. Ubam explained that individuals will pay 12,000 naira to 18,000 naira for enrolment into the programme, which will be implemented in July.
He said universal health coverage would be achieved by 2030, and all people of the world must have access to affordable and free health care without paying.
