By Asma’u Ahmad
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) are collaborating to enhance healthcare delivery to Nigerians, especially at the grassroots.
Director-General of NOA, Dr. Garba Abari said this at a retreat organised by NHIS and NOA for state directors as well as other officers in Abuja.
“The partnership is expedient to ensure that majority of our citizens have access to quality and affordable healthcare services irrespective of their place of domain,” Abari said.
He tasked the state directors and officers to be ready to create awareness, enlightenment and educate Nigerians, especially at the grassroots on the benefits of registering with NHIS scheme.
He recommended that a comprehensive community consultation plan be established and implemented to increase awareness among community members.
Dr. Abari appealed that the consultation should include clinics, schools, pension pay points, cooperative associations, market men and women, okada riders and others.
He promised that NOA would work closely with NHIS and offer assistance using its national advocacy footprint and time tested capacity for the grassroots.
The Executive Secretary of NHIS, Professor Usman Yusuf said had resolved to partner with NOA to create awareness on the benefits of the scheme.
He said the NHIS has not reached the people they are meant to reach.
“It is quite unfortunate that after 11 years of establishing NHIS, it has only covered 3 to 4 per cent of the populace which makes me think we must have been doing the wrong thing.
“NHIS has the potential to make a difference in the life and healthcare delivery to our people. It creates an avenue where everyone can access health care irrespective of his financial capacity,” he said.
He stated that the robust platform of NOA would go a long way to educate, enlighten and create the very much needed awareness on the scheme at the grassroots.
