Isiyaku Ahmed
Jigawa state government has flagged off the enrollment and access to services under Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) that will enable vulnerable population to have access to defined free health care services.
These primary health care services will be accessed at the 279 designated primary health care centers across the 887 political wards in the state.
Speaking at the event at Sakwaya Primary Health Care Center, Monday, Jigawa state Governor who was ably represented by his Deputy, Malam Umar Namadi said the Jigawa has received five hundred and forty-five million, seven hundred and fifteen thousand, five hundred- and seventy-eight-naira ninety-seven kobo (N545,715,578.97) from the NHIS Gateway.
He said the amount would cover 45,476 beneficiaries based on N12,000 premium per individual.
Each of the 287 political wards in the state would have 157 beneficiaries equitably. Two hundred and eighty-seven would be reserved for social rehabilitation homes, he added.
Namadi called on the executive secretary of NHIS to communicate to Jigawa State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (JICHMA) officially on the provisional accreditation of the 279 state HPC facilities participating in the program to avoid delay.
Earlier, in his key note address, the Executive Secretary, Dr. Nura Ibrahi Kazaure said JISCHMA is a product of Jigawa law no. 7 of 2019 saddled with the responsibility of fast-tracking universal health coverage.
To achieve its mandate, the agency came out with three schemes, the formal which covers public servants, students in tertiary institutions and the organized private sector; the informal sector has two categories, the voluntary and community-based contributors social health insurance scheme.
And the equity scheme which has the free maternal and child health program and basic healthcare provision fund.
He further explained that JISCHMA targeted 120,450 people across the 287 political wards who have been validated through a social register, adding that the funds available will only cover 467 individuals based on N12,000 premium.
“We did this because basic health care provision guideline anchored subsequent disbursement based on number of enrollees, where the federal government will give 75% and the state will balance the 25%,” he said.
Dr. Kazaure assured that the 25% has been appropriated in the 2021 budget.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof. Nasiru Sambo said the universal health coverage is a top priority global agenda and the integral part of sustainable development goal (SDG) which many nations including Nigeria are pursuing vigorously for the benefit of citizens.
Prof. Sambo said: “As you are all aware, the federal government signed the national health act into law in 2014 in response to the unacceptable high poor health outcomes in the country,” adding that it is an important legislation that provides for the earmarking of not less than 1% of the consolidated revenue fund of the federal government to improve the health of Nigerians, especially the vulnerable segment of the public.
In accordance with the express provision of the National Health Act, the NHIS is expected to receive 50% of the BHCPF for enrollees under the arrangement.
“We are pleased to report to you today, that the scheme commenced the implementation of this statutory assignment and the disbursement of funds to all the state and federal capital territory,” Prof. Sambo added.
He announced that Jigawa state received N545,715,578.97 from NHIS, before the flag off of the commencement of enrollment which opens a window of succor and new possibilities for the people of Jigawa state.
In his goodwill message, Dr. Michael Olawuyi, the National Sustainability Lead, Women’s Integrated Services for Health (WISH), a UKAid funded program jointly implemented by Marie Stopes International, Options, Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria, Ipas and Think place congratulated the state government for achieving the mile stone towards universal health coverage.
WISH has been supportive of BHCPF through Jigawa State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (JISCHMA), leading to the launch of the enrollment and access to service delivery program.
Dr. Olawuyi called on the poor and vulnerable to embrace the program which is meant to remove financial burden in accessing defined free health care services.
