NHIS to enroll 20 million Nigerians yearly – Sambo

The Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof Mohammed Sambo, has announced that the Scheme plans to enroll 20 million Nigerians annually in the next ten years.

He stated that the plan, coupled with the implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), will ramp up Nigeria’s efforts towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Sambo made these known at the ceremony to flag off the implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) in Plateau State, with the enrollment of 28, 091 beneficiaries.

According to a statement by the Head of Media and Public Relations of the Scheme, Emmanuel Ononokpono, the NHIS boss said a strategic plan to bring 20m Nigerians annually under health insurance in the next 10 years has been put in place, adding that the BHCPF was an integral part of accelerating the drive towards attaining Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.

The State Governor, Dr. Simon Lalong, who was represented by his deputy, Prof Sonni Tyoden, noted that with the commencement of enrollment, the state had begun its journey towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Speaking at the occasion, the Director-General of Plateau State Contributory HealthCare Management Agency (PLACHEMA), Dr. Fabong Jemchang Yildam, stated that the state government had made available its counterpart fund of N100m to match N337m received from the federal government under the programme for 2019, adding that 325 health centres and 52 secondary health facilities have been accredited for use by beneficiaries across the state.