The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) have assured Nigerians that the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is achievable
by 2030 in Nigeria.
Mr Adelaja Abereoran, the North Zonal Coordinator of the NHIA, stated this on Friday in Ilorin during an Interactive Session with newsmen.
He said the acceleration of programmes, implementation of NHIA Act and effective collaboration with all stakeholders will bring about the realization of UCH in the country by the year 2030.
Abereoran stated that it is now compulsory for every Nigerian to enrol for health insurance scheme spoke during an interactive session with journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State on Friday.
“NHIA has been undertaking reforms to reposition the authority to adequately respond to the challenge of attaining universal health coverage (UHC) in Nigeria by the year 2030.
“This is based on a presidential mandate and in line with the sustainable development goals (SDGs),” he said.
Abereoran whose area of coverage include Kwara, Kogi and Niger states, said some of the reforms included value system re-orientation, promotion of transparency/ accountability and accelerating the drive towards achieving UCH through the consolidation of existing programmes and innovation.
He described the National Health Insurance Act 2022 signed into law on 19th May, 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari as,” a landmark legislation which is bound to significantly alter the health insurance ecosystem in Nigeria.”
The Zonal Coordinator added that,” some of the efforts mentioned above have been yielding results positively. The NHIA has been receiving awards for its innovations and interventions.
“The awards include IT compliance by NITDA; Best Grade A parastatal by SERVICOM; Ethics and Integrity Compliance Score Card (EICS 2022) with a rating of 74.5% by the ICPC.”
Abereoran urged the Kwara State council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to partner with NHIA to create more awareness and also purchase health insurance for journalists as group.
Also speaking, Alhaji Ahmed Yahaya, the Kwara Coordinator of NHIA, emphasised the need for effective sensitization of the populace on the need to key into the Health Insurance that is obtainable across the nation.
He saddled the newsmen with the responsibility of educating and sensitising the masses on the UCH.
Responding, the chairman of NUJ in the state, AbdulLateef Ahmed thanked the management of NHIA for carrying journalists along in their programmes in the state.