NAN – The Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Mr Femi Akingbade, said on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 that the Federal Government was committed to providing sustainable healthcare services to Nigerians.
Akingbade said this at the inauguration of free medical healthcare under the NHIS at Neni in Anaocha local government area of Anambra State.
He said the exercise was part of’federal government’s efforts to bring healthcare service closer to the people especially at the rural areas.
The scribe explained that NHIS had perfected plans to digitalise healthcare delivery as part of efforts to make the scheme faster and more accessible to citizens.
Represented by the Acting General Manager, Informal Sector, NHIS, Dr Hamza Aliyu, Akingbade said that the choice of Anaocha local government was because of obvious partnership between the local council and NHIS.
“The Federal Government is committed towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the health sector of the country,’’ he said.
He commended the council chairman, Mr Ikeobi Ejiofor, for partnering with NHIS.
According to him, children under the age of five years and pregnant women have access to free medical care from the scheme.
Declaring the exercise open, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Joe Akabuike, said that the state government has always taken health as one of its cardinal priority.
He said the administration of Gov. Willie Obiano had been partnering with various federal government agencies to attract services to the people of the state.
Akabuike, represented by the Director, Primary Healthcare and Disease Control, Chief Clement Okafor, assured that the state government would never lag behind in counterpart funding.
Earlier, NHIS Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) in Anaocha, Chief Peter Aneto, said that the exercise was to capture all ages in the council to benefit from the scheme in accessing medical care.
He commended NHIS for being a veritable partner in tackling various health challenges facing the people.
Aneto also urged the people of the state to avail themselves of the opportunity to access free medical treatment from the scheme.
