The Niger State Health Insurance Agency (NiCare) recently convened a pivotal meeting with key religious leaders to explore collaborative efforts aimed at fulfilling the agency’s mandate across the state.
The meeting brought together leaders from the State Imams’ Forum, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN).
In his welcome address, NiCare’s Executive Secretary, Sulayman Abu-Bakr, outlined the primary objectives of the session: to foster relationships with religious leaders and to elucidate the health insurance scheme’s benefits, ensuring comprehensive coverage for all residents.
Abu-Bakr emphasized the scheme’s goal of providing affordable access to essential healthcare services. He presented various health plans, including those tailored for both formal and informal sectors. Notably, the T-SHIP and Equity Plan focus on supporting the most vulnerable populations, while the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHPF) also targets these groups.
He announced that the Executive Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umaru Bago, had recently approved the enrollment of 20,000 individuals, granting them access to free healthcare services.
Despite these efforts, Abu-Bakr acknowledged ongoing challenges in service utilization among vulnerable groups. He called on religious leaders to help sensitize their communities about the scheme and identify individuals who could benefit from NiCare’s support. He also invited the clerics to participate in reviewing NiCare’s operational guidelines to enhance the scheme’s effectiveness.
Hajiya Habiba L. Umar, head of NiCare’s informal sector, provided an overview of the scheme, its legal framework, and progress since inception, highlighting the mandate for every Nigerian state to establish a health insurance agency.
Malam Jibril Abdullah, representing the Imams’ Forum, expressed gratitude for NiCare’s inclusive approach and pledged to disseminate the information to their congregations. Similarly, Archt. Julius James Umoru, Director of Women, Youth, and Education at CAN, praised NiCare’s efforts and assured that CAN would actively promote the scheme among its members.
The meeting featured valuable contributions from participants, addressing questions on registration, eligibility, and coverage specifics. In a generous gesture, Abu-Bakr offered complimentary health insurance coverage to the attending clergymen, reinforcing NiCare’s commitment to serving all sectors of society.