NHIS will focus on the vulnerable – Femi Thom

He made this assertion at the recent official flag-off of the Community Based Social Health Insurance Scheme, promoted by the Emoriko Mutual Health Association in Emoriko, Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State.Dr Femi Thomas noted that Nigeria has a very huge informal sector, as over 70 per cent of the nation’s population is caught […]

He made this assertion at the recent official flag-off of the Community Based Social Health Insurance Scheme, promoted by the Emoriko Mutual Health Association in Emoriko, Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Dr Femi Thomas noted that Nigeria has a very huge informal sector, as over 70 per cent of the nation’s population is caught in this bracket, which according to him, necessitates the recent convening of a presidential summit on universal health coverage in Abuja, to develop and implement strategies for ensuring that all Nigerians enjoy access to effective health care, without the constraints of physical and financial barriers.
He however warned that this can only be achieved if the informal sector is covered particularly at the community level.
Thomas said this informs the determination of the scheme to scale up community health insurance activities across the country, in tandem with the resolve of the Jonathan administration to boost human capital development, welfare of the people and economic growth of the nation.
He expressed pleasure at the rapidly increasing demand for the services of the scheme in recent times, attributing that to the new initiatives at NHIS to achieve the primary objectives of the organization.
He therefore appealed to the state and local governments to summon the required political will and embrace the formal sector programme of the scheme, thereby building the platform for  improving the quality of life of their workforce.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Kogi State, Capt Idris Wada, has again endorsed the NHIS, describing it as a transformation tool.
The Governor, who spoke at the occasion through his Special Assistant on Health Insurance, Dr. Dorcas Onumiya, charged various community associations in the state to immediately initiate the processes for the formation of mutual health groups, towards empowering members and their families in the various communities to become active players in the socio-economic affairs of their societies.