BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – Determined to provide effective and affordable healthcare delivery services to its people, the Bauchi State Government has enrolled a total of 45,000 vulnerable groups under the State Healthcare Provision Fund NHIS-Gateway Service.
Handled by the Bauchi State Health Contributory Management Agency, the programme is meant to cater mostly for the poor of the poorest.
According to Governor Bala Mohammed Abdulkadri, the initiative is a social investment programme that pays for the health services of vulnerable members of society.
He spoke while flagging off the enrollment of beneficiaries and launching of the Healthcare provision fund NHIS Gateway service at the Primary Health Centre, Liman Katagum in Bauchi Local Government Area on Thursday.
Represented by his deputy, Senator Baba Tella, the Governor explained that the vulnerable groups include children under age five; women within reproductive age group; physically challenged people; old persons; the poorest of the poor as well as students.
He said with the common man desperately yearning for succour, the programme will eliminate financial obstacles, improve access to quality health care and strengthen the healthcare system of the state.
“Bauchi State has 20 local government areas with 323 wards. Each ward has a well-equipped health facility with skilled personnel and each is to serve 137 vulnerable group, bringing the total to 45,000 across the state”, Governor Bala said.
He further said; “With State government counterpart fund and gradual increase in federal allocation, it will go a long way in providing access to health care, alleviating poverty, improving quality of health care and general improvement of health infrastructures in the state.”
The Governor however pleaded with the federal government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to ensure timely disbursement of its contribution, noting that this explained why the health scheme launch was delayed.
Also speaking, Executive Chairman of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed said N447 million was received as takeoff grant for the programme, adding that of the amount, the Agency is giving out N377 million directly to all health facilities in the state.
Rilwanu, who disclosed that there is a business plan for all 323 facilities with each having its account, said the money will be sent through the remitta.
He however lamented that remitta has continued to pose a challenge with the Agency unable to disburse funds into respective accounts of the facilities.
