By Emmanuel Obisue
Federal Government has concluded plans to kick start the Universal Health Coverage programme in a bid to make quality healthcare service affordable and accessible to 83 million vulnerable Nigerians, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha disclosed on Wednesday.
He made the disclosure when the delegation from World Health Organisation, WHO, led its Country Representative, Dr. Walter Mulombo Kazadi alongside the Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Authority, NHIA, Prof. Mohammed Nasir Sambo, paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
The SGF said that the signing into law the National Health Insurance Authority Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari signaled a new lease of life to the health sector, which would make universal health coverage accessible to the vulnerable in every nook and crannies of the country.
“In May of this year, we had the President signed the bill, now made it to an act to create first, the agency that is going to administer the universal health insurance coverage to cater for the 83 million vulnerable you mentioned and also to superintend over the general administration of the insurance coverage across the length and breadth of this country,” Mustapha noted.
He thanked the WHO for the technical and financial support Nigeria has received so far, which has assisted the country in its fight against Covid-19.
According to the SGF, one of the multiplier effects of treating illnesses is the impoverishment of the families affected because of the out-of-pocket expenses being expended in the course of treatment.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary NHIA thanked President Buhari for the bold step he has taken to sign into law the National Health Insurance Act.
