Buni enrolls 100 indigents in healthcare scheme

Governor Mala Buni of Yobe state has sponsored the enrolment of 100 poor and vulnerable people under Expanded Healthcare Services Scheme in the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Lawan Gana, disclosed this at the inauguration of the exercise in Damaturu.

He said the governor inaugurated the Yobe State Expanded Healthcare Services Scheme and made a personal commitment to support enrolment of 100 poor and vulnerable persons.

“Today, in fulfillment of that pledge, we are kick starting Buni’s personal sponsorship.” 

He said that the scheme targeted all vulnerable people such as disability, poverty, pregnant women, children older than five and sickle cell disease patients, among others.

“In order to achieve universal health coverage, the government could not do that alone.

“There is need for the affluent, philanthropists and organisations to support the government by emulating Buni’s gesture.” 

According  to Gana, the state government is targeting 80 percent of the population to be covered under the scheme.

Also speaking, Dr Babagana Tijjani, the Executive Secretary, Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (YOCHMA), said the agency was determined to ensure that programmes under the agency commence soon

“We have the formal sector programme, which civil servants of the state and local government are currently benefiting from.

“While other parts of the population benefit from the informal part of the programme.”

Tijjani added that the Equity and Basic Healthcare Programmes, were meant for the vulnerable members of the society.

He enjoined indigenes of the state to join the programme to achieve universal healthcare coverage.

A visually impaired beneficiary, Malam Ali Bukar, lauded the gesture especially to the vulnerable population of the state.

Temitope/NAN