The General Manager/ Zonal Coordinator , North Central of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), covering Kwara, Kogi and Niger States, Mr Adelaja Abereoran says it is now mandatory for every Nigerian to enroll for health insurance scheme.
Similarly, he disclosed that the Universal Health Coverage is achievable in Nigeria by 2030 as it’s main aim is to promote, regulate, and integrate health insurance activities in the country.
According to him , any employer of labour with more than five staff is required to obtain health insurance.
The Zonal Coordinator stated this in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, North Central Nigeria during an interactive session with journalists. He said the acceleration of programmes , implementation of NHIA Act and effective collaboration with all stakeholders will bring about the realization of universal health coverage in the country by the year 2030.
“NHIA has been undertaking reforms to reposition the authority to adequately respond to the challenge of attaining universal health coverage (UHC) in Nigeria by the year 2030. This is based on a presidential mandate and in line with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) “
Abereoran said some of the reforms included value system re-orientation,promotion of transparency/ accountability and accelerating the drive towards achieving universal health coverage through the consolidation of existing programmes and innovation.
He described the National Health Insurance Act 2022 signed into law on 19th May, 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari as,” a landmark legislation which is bound to significantly alter the health insurance ecosystem in Nigeria.”
The zonal coordinator added that,” some of the efforts mentioned above have been yielding results positively. The NHIA has been receiving awards for its innovations and interventions. The awards include IT compliance by NITDA; Best Grade A parastatal by SERVICOM; Ethics and Integrity Compliance Score Card (EICS 2022) with a rating of 74.5% by the ICPC.”
Abereoran urged the Kwara State council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to partner with NHIA to create more awareness and also purchase health insurance for journalists as a group.
He reminded Nigerians to be cautious of the fresh outbreak of COVID -19 and urged them to abide by all precautions against the pandemic stressing the NHIA has taken all measures to check the spread as they have put all their members of staff on red alert for forestall any possible challenge.
In his brief remark, the Kwara State Coordinator, NHIA, Mr. Ahmed Kola Yahaya, appealed to Nigerians to enroll for health insurance Scheme, as it will in the future become an offence not to enroll themselves in the scheme.
Responding, the chairman of NUJ in the state, AbdulLateef Ahmed thanked the management of NHIA for carrying journalists along in their programmes in the state.
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