By Yakubu Halliru Jekadafari
The Gombe State office of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has held a one-day stakeholders’ meeting to address challenges affecting the effective implementation of health insurance programmes.
Speaking at the event, the Acting Zonal Director of NHIA, Mr. Ezekiel Danjuma, represented by the State Coordinator, Dr. Usman Ahmed, said the engagement was aimed at sensitising stakeholders on ongoing reforms and working together to tackle existing obstacles.
Dr. Ahmed stressed the need for collaboration to align the NHIA Formal Sector Programme for the benefit of all, under the theme: “Chronicles of a New NHIA: Towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).”
Also speaking, the Head of Standards and Quality Assurance, Dr. Shamsuddeen B. Malala, explained the role of NHIA in supporting vulnerable groups, especially children, pregnant women, and the elderly in rural areas. He noted that NHIA’s intervention has helped reduce maternal mortality in the state and across the country.
In their goodwill messages, the Medical Director of Zainab Bulkachuwa Women and Children Hospital, Dr. Ugon Peter, and the Team Lead of NNPCL North-East Zone, Dr. Jika Abubakar Ahmad, commended the Federal Government for introducing the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), which provides 48 free medical services.
They added that a similar initiative at the state level, the State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (SEMSAS), will also benefit government-owned health facilities.
The Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Gombe State Command, represented by ACC Ishaya D. Maitins, pledged support for enrolling inmates into the NHIA scheme.
The event drew participants from federal ministries, departments, and agencies, and featured an interactive session on finding lasting solutions to health insurance challenges.
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