) The Niger State Contributory Health Agency (NiCare) says it has enrolled more than 121,000 residents under its various health insurance programmes as part of efforts to expand access to affordable and quality healthcare.
Mr Sulayman Abu-Bakr, Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NiCare, disclosed this on Monday in Minna during an advocacy visit to the wife of the Niger Governor, Hajiya Fatima Mohammed Bago.
Abu-Bakr said the beneficiaries included 80,230 vulnerable persons enrolled under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) Vulnerable Group Programme.
He explained that the visit was aimed at securing the support of the governor’s wife to further expand health insurance coverage, particularly among vulnerable residents across the state’s 25 local government areas.
According to him, the agency is targeting an additional 65,000 vulnerable residents through a coordinated enrolment campaign.
He said the initiative would be driven with the support of Hajiya Bago in her new capacity as the State Health Insurance Ambassador.
The NiCare boss highlighted the implementation of the BHCPF Vulnerable Group Programme and the agency’s ongoing efforts to improve access to affordable and quality healthcare through expanded health insurance coverage.
Responding, Hajiya Bago commended NiCare for its achievements in widening access to healthcare services across the state.
She described the agency as one of the leading government institutions making meaningful contributions to the welfare of the people.
The governor’s wife formally accepted her appointment as the State Health Insurance Ambassador.
She pledged to champion awareness, advocacy and mobilisation campaigns to increase enrolment in health insurance programmes, especially among vulnerable groups. (NAN)
