NHIA begins health insurance enrolment for 10,000 people in Rivers

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has commenced the enrolment of 10,000 people in Rivers West Senatorial District under the “Bringing Healthcare Home” initiative.

Dr Kelechi Ohiri, Director-General of NHIA, made this known in a statement by Emmanuel Ononokpono, Assistant Director of Media, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The programme was sponsored by Sen. Ipalibo Banigo, the Chairperson, Senate Committee on Health.

It was aimed at expanding access to quality healthcare in the region, and was launched in Ahoada East Local Government Area of the State.

Ohiri said that health insurance was a critical tool to combat health-related poverty issues and inequality.

He said that access to affordable healthcare was essential for maintaining human dignity.

“The initiative targets reducing the high rate of out-of-pocket healthcare expenses in Nigeria, with 70 per cent of the population currently bearing healthcare costs without financial support,” he said.

Meanwhile, the sponsor of the programme, Sen. Ipalibo Banigo, affirmed her commitment to improving healthcare access for her constituents.

“At the flag-off, over 30 beneficiaries received their health insurance identity cards, marking the beginning of their coverage under the programme, which spans eight Local Government Areas in Rivers West,” she said.

She said that the initiative underscored the role of health insurance in addressing social inequalities and improving healthcare access, particularly for vulnerable communities.