NSCC Upbeat, Lauds Buhari Over New Health Insurance Act
BY EDMOND ODOK – The National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for signing into law the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Bill 2022.
Importantly, the Centre is upbeat and delighted that the new Act ensures full health coverage for all Nigerians, including Older Persons at all levels.
According to the Director-General of NSCC, Dr Emem Omokaro, the new Act now presents a springboard and backbone to the National Senior Citizens Centre (NPHCDA) and WHO-Nigeria MOU on mainstreaming Geriatric care into Primary HealthCare towards ensuring Integrated Care for Older Persons (ICOPE).
Dr Omokaro lauded the President’s foresightedness in actualizing the new law that effectively repeals the moribund National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Act which has been operational since 2004.
She said particularly noteworthy is the concern for Nigeria’s vulnerable population and the creation of the Vulnerable Group Fund (VGF) that will ensure over 83 million Nigerians who cannot afford the Health Insurance premiums are adequately catered for in the current arrangements.
With the new Act, the NHIA is expected to collaborate with state governments to accredit primary and secondary healthcare facilities as well as ensure the enrollment of Nigerians into the programme.
Only recently, the NSCC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) on achieving Integrated Care for Older Persons, Mainstreaming Geriatric Care and Geriatric Home Help into the Primary care system in Nigeria.
The NSCC’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Media and Communication, Omini Oden, explained that MoU is the outcome of a two-day National Workshop on Integrated Care for Older Persons organized by the NPHCDA in partnership with the NSCC with support coming from the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria.
