….Says pregnant ones among them entitled to 12 weeks post delivery care
Not less that 17,000 members of the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC), serving in Lagos State have been captured in the National Health Insurance Scheme, to ensure they have access to quality and affordable healthcare during their service year.
The Zonal Coordinator ,National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Lagos State, Mr.
Olufemi A. Akingbade who disclosed this said it is in line with the authority’s goal of achieving Universal Health Insurance coverage for Nigerians by 2030.
Mr. Akingbade was speaking at an interactive stakeholders forum in Lagos held to properly sensitize healthcare providers on the scope of the scheme as well as receive feedbacks from them towards enhanced service delivery.
He explained that up to seven streams of youth corps members serving in Lagos totalling about 17,000 people have so far been captured in the scheme and that as part of their benefits , the pregnant ones are entitled to 12 weeks post delivery care by their healthcare providers.
“For 12 weeks after delivery, it is your responsibility to care for them and their babies”, Akingbade told the healthcare providers.
” We have six HMOs across Nigeria, one for each geopolitical zone ,and they are all aware of these rules”, he added.
Akingbade who described the scheme as one established to guarantee financial access to quality healthcare for Nigerians,
noted that the authority was working round the clock towards the realization of it’s 2030 target of health insurance cover for every Nigerian including those who are legally visiting the country.
He stated that all Nigerians should be entitled to health insurance cover and to achieve that a financial arrangement should be worked out to take care of the poor ones in the society.
According to Akingbade enrollment of more people into the scheme will make it more affordable, adding that service providers should enhance their services to attract more people.
“We have been to other countries where they have almost attained 100 percent universal health coverage. Some have gotten to as far as 80 to 85 percent and one of the things that we realized in all these countries is that there is none of them that have achieved what they achieved without a mandatory nature of health insurance. That is the first step,the second step now will be the willpower,the government to be able to enforce it. We need those in authority to have the willpower to enforce the Health Insurance Act for everybody to win”, he said.
The Deputy General Manager (NHIA )
Dr. Abraham who hoped that the country can achieve the universal health insurance target by 2030, said based on experiences of nations that have achieved the feat, making the scheme mandatory would be a step in the right direction.2022
He said, “Achieving Universal Health coverage in Nigeria by 2030 is possible. This Acts has done three things in making that possible. Number one is making health insurance mandatory. Number two, it made all states of the Federation to key into the scheme. Also, it has made it a criminal case not to embrace the scheme.
“We are expecting a new guideline that is based on this act. In fact, from the act alone, some things have been criminalized.
” Now the guideline which is a secondary law, that is built on the foundation of the act is almost ready. And in that guideline, you will now see the powers that is given to the authority to deal with certain cases”, he added.
Dr. Abraham also revealed that based on the new guidelines, some HMOs are going to be sacked for not properly delivering on the mandate given to them.
“Signed into law last year, 2022 ,that Act has made health insurance mandatory in Nigeria. Every Nigerian must have and every legal resident of Nigeria. What it also means is that if you are a visitor for the period you are in Nigeria, you must have health insurance.
“It is a game of numbers. This mandatory nature of the Act has made that game of numbers a positive one.
“We accredit providers from time to time. We want to make sure they keep abreast with the information, the benefits package, referral system that are available”.
The Universal Health Insurance programme for all Nigerians is being made possible under a package known as “GIESHIP”.
In a presentation on the package, the Acting General Manager, Programme Unit of NHIA, Ikeja Lagos, Chika Amahalu said it is intended to provide access to quality and affordable health care to all Nigerians, including the poor and vulnerable ones.
She explained that , ” It is an all inclusive program aimed at leaving no one behind.
” That is why we are presenting it first. Now we are taking it seriously, because for some of you that have been asking us, where do I belong? I’m not a civil servant. I’m not working with the state government or federal government. I am not working with the local government. How do I register? How do I come? About how do I register my family in this particular program? We take care of it as you listen attentively.
“We Want everyone to be covered, whether in formal or informal sector”, she told the audiences.
Amahalu advised civil servants to constitute themselves into small groups and purchase health insurance package for themselves at very affordable price.
“Let’s have retirees association. Life after service can be tough. If you have 10 years to go, gather your colleagues and form a group”, she said.
The forum though for Healthcare providers under the NHIS, was attended by many enrolees representing different private and public sector organisation, ministries and agencies including immigration, Federal Road Safety Commission and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
