By Asma’u Ahmad
The Sokoto State Government has launched a community contributory healthcare scheme to boost healthcare delivery in the state with N100 million.
Speaking at the event, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, said the takeoff of the scheme is one of the most important interventions of his administration in the healthcare sector.
“Government has set aside N100million as seed fund for the takeoff of the scheme which will ensure the implementation of the universal health coverage through contributions from various stakeholders,” he
said.
According to him, the scheme is an important policy whose impact will positively be felt on the lives of the people.
Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal
Tambuwal said: “It will also protect families from the financial hardship of huge medical bills and limit the inflationary rise in the cost of healthcare services in all parts of the state.
“Apart from ensuring equitable distribution of healthcare costs across different income groups, this scheme will improve and harness private sector participation in the provision of healthcare services in Sokoto.”
In his remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, dispelled the notion that Islam was against contributory health scheme.
The Sultan said Islam encourages members of the society to help each other at all times.
Giving an insight into the benefits to be derived, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Kakale Balarabe, said the new policy would ensure that all residents of the state have access to effective, quality and affordable healthcare services.
While commending the state government for its foresight in implementing the policy, the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Usman Yusuf, said that the benefits of the policy would be felt for generations to come.
