Nasir Sambo, the Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) said the Buhari administration has disbursed N518 million to Sokoto State Government in 2020 as National Healthcare Intervention Fund aimed at enhancing the lives of vulnerable persons in the society.
Speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of the official commencement of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), Mr. Sambo said the federal government remained committed to attainment of mandatory Universal Health Coverage (UHC) toward ensuring improved healthcare to citizens.
He stressed that the federal authorities was committed to achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The executive secretary noted that the National Health Act enshrined one percent from accrued consolidated national revenue for Basic Healthcare Provision for children, women and the elderly.
He added that each state of the federation and the FCT benefitted from the fund.
He said arrangements had been made to ensure sustainability of the programme and commended Gov. Aminu Tambuwal for floating a similar programme, where Sokoto government allocated two percent from its consolidated revenues.
Mr. Sambo added that N8.7 million was also shared to state governments by NHIS as operational fund to enroll beneficiaries in their respective states.
The executive secretary further said that states were allowed to utilise NHIS’s Information Technology platforms to enrol beneficiaries.
‘”NHIS will continue to support states in the areas of training and capacity building along with other logistics, ” Mr. Sambo said.
Sokoto State health commissioner, Ali Inname, assured the government’s commitment in the overall process and urged community and religious leaders to support the exercise.
Sani Umar-Jabbi, the District Head of Gagi and Leader of Gagi Primary Healthcare Centre community group which was the venue of the enrollment launch, expressed appreciation over the federal and state government’s commitments.
Mr. Umar-Jabbi assured increased community partnership and mobilisation to achieve the desired results.
