Launching the programme in Sokoto, the Executive Secretary of NHIS, Professor Nasir Sambo, said the programme was part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to attain Universal Health Coverage across the country.
Professor Sambo said over N8.7 billion was disbursed to States by the federal government through the agency for the enrollment programme.
He added that Sokoto State received N518million for the year 2020 to commence the enrollment.
He explained that the enrollment programme will give the Vulnerable opportunity to get registered and be linked up with healthcare facilities which will enable them receive subsidized healthcare services.
The Basic Healthcare Provision Fund was a creation of the law under the National Health Act of 2014.
“The Scheme is a subsidy programme that seek to remove financial barriers to accessing primary healthcare for the poor and vulnerable members of the society
The project is funded through a monthly deduction of one percent of the nation’s consolidated revenue,” the Executive Secretary said.
He explained that over fifteen states of the federation and the federal capital territory have enrolled into the programme and have recorded significant improvement in their primary healthcare delivery.
In his remarks, the Sokoto State Commissioner for Health, Dr Ali Inname, said health is one of the priority area of the present administration of Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal with the sector attracting huge budgetary allocations.
Dr Inname added that the sector was allocated over twenty one billion naira representing eleven percent of the total budget and in 2021 over seventeen billion naira representing seventeen percent of the budget size.
He explained that effort by the State government is underway to employ more health personnel to assist in improving effective health care services.
The Commissioner said government had set aside over fifty one million naira for the payment of the health casual personnel across twenty three local government areas in the State.
“With the launch of the Basic Healthcare provision, health personnel in the state promised to work harder to improve the Healthcare indices in the state,” the Commissioner said.
Also in her welcome address, the Special Adviser to Governor Tambuwal on Sokoto State Health Contributory Scheme Agency, Dr Amamatu Tambuwal, commended NHIS for launching the Scheme in Sokoto.
She said state government had done a lot to ensure proper implementation of the programme for subsidised healthcare services.
The Special Adviser urged members of both private and public sector to cooperate and utilize the opportunity for their overall healthcare service delivery.
The major aim of the New scheme is to improve primary healthcare delivery for the vulnerable and other populace in Sokoto State.
