The Niger State Contributory Health Agency (NGSCHA), Nicare, has flagged off the distribution of registration identity slips to its enrollees in Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State.
Speaking at the distribution of the slips to some of the beneficaries at the old Airport Clinic in Minna yesterday, the Acting Head of Health Maintenance Unit of Nicare, Pharmacist Amina Nana Kolo, said the presentation of the identity slips to the enrollees was to enable them to have access to the required health packages, which, according to her, included malaria, thyphiod fever, antenatal care, delivery, common surgical operations like appendectomy, hermioraphy, and many more health treatments.
According to her, all residents of Niger State registered under the scheme, either in the formal or informal sector, were to benefit from the health insurance scheme. The contribution of the formal sector is N3,600 for the principal, the contributor, and five other dependents monthly, while that of the informal sector is N7,200 only per head annually.
Pharm Kolo, who said that the exercise will cover all 25 LGAs of the state, however, explained that about 180 enrollees in Chanchaga LGA of the state were to access their services at the Old Airport Clinic facility.
Speaking also during the ceremony, the Vice Chairman of Chanchaga Local Government Council, Hon. Isah Mohammed, urged the beneficiaries of the scheme to utilise the services offered by the government by keeping their slips in a safe place to enable them to present them at the designated health facilities whenever the need arises.
Hon. Mohammed, who represented the council chairman, Hon. Aminu Ladan, earlier described the health package initiated by the government as a service to humanity, adding that the services will bring succour to the vulnerable population across the state.
He said Chanchaga LGA leadership, led by Hon. Ladan, will step into action by mobilising the people of the council on the need for all to key into the programme.
One of the beneficaries, Mallam Usman Kodo, who spoke with the reporter shortly after receiving his registration slip, expressed happiness with the kind gesture provided by the state government and promised to make judicious use of the offer even though no one prayed to fall sick.
Over 50 enrollees were presented with their slips after they were convinced of the importance of the scheme.