Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe has personally sponsored the enrollment of 400 vulnerable persons into the Informal Sector Programme of the Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (YSCHMA).
Buni made this known on Tuesday while inaugurating YSCHMA enrolment exercise into the Informal Sector Programme in Damaturu.
The Gov was represented by the General Manager, Yobe Road Traffic Management Agency (YOROTA) who is also the Director-General of Coalition of Yobe APC Political Organisation (COYAPO), Alhaji Bature Goniri.
Start tomorrow informed
Save your place for the morning brief. We’ll start emailing when delivery goes live.
Free. Confirm by email. Unsubscribe anytime.
Goniri said the initiative aimed to give beneficiaries access to affordable, quality healthcare services at YSCHMA-accredited health and referral centres across the state.
He recalled that the governor had pledged during his inaugural speech in 2019 to give special attention to healthcare delivery.
He assured that the Buni-led administration would continue to focus on health-related projects and initiatives aimed at improving residents' welfare.
Goniri, on behalf of COYAPO, pledged to sponsor 50 vulnerable persons from the state's 17 local government areas into the YSCHMA Informal Sector Programme.
He also promised to encourage political appointees under the Buni Youth initiative to sponsor at least two vulnerable persons each.
Goniri commended the YSCHMA management and staff for their efforts in implementing the state’s contributory healthcare scheme.
He appealed to government officials, politicians, wealthy individuals, private organisations and philanthropists to support the enrolment of vulnerable persons to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure and expand health insurance coverage in the state.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of YSCHMA, Dr Babagana Tijjani, commended the governor for his commitment to improving healthcare access, particularly for vulnerable groups.
Tijjani described the gesture as a lifeline for poor and elderly persons, persons with disabilities, widows and others who could not afford healthcare expenses.
He said the enrollment would enable the beneficiaries to access healthcare services without the burden of paying hospital bills out of pocket.
The executive secretary called on politicians, private sector organisations, wealthy individuals, philanthropists and other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the governor by sponsoring vulnerable persons into the programme.
He said collective support from individuals and organisations would accelerate the state’s efforts towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) before the 2030 deadline.
“The government cannot do it alone. If every politician, businessman and philanthropist sponsors 10, 20 or 50 vulnerable persons, we will be able to achieve Universal Health Coverage in Yobe faster before the 2030 deadline.
“Health is the best gift you can give to a vulnerable person,” he said.
Tijjani assured that the agency would continue to expand enrolment, strengthen service delivery, and ensure transparency and accountability in implementing the contributory health scheme across the state’s 17 local government areas.
In separate remarks, two beneficiaries, Muhammad Maina and Hajja Bukar, thanked the governor for sponsoring their enrolment.
They said the initiative would reduce the financial burden of accessing healthcare and help alleviate some of the challenges facing vulnerable households.
Discussion0