Commissioner pledges support for free, basic healthcare scheme in Yobe
Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, Commissioner, Yobe State Ministry of Information, on Friday pledged adequate sensitization of the public for a successful implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund scheme (BPHCF).
Bego made the pledge in Damaturu when Dr Hauwa Goni, Director, Public Health in the ministry, visited him.
Reports state that BPHCF is jointly funded by states and the Federal Government, to provide free medical services to the poor and vulnerable people in the country.
The commissioner said the sensitization was necessary to encourage citizens, especially rural dwellers, to key into the scheme.
“I noted with concern that only 93 out of the 178 wards have so far been covered in the ongoing enrolment of beneficiaries of the scheme in the state.
You still have 85 wards more to cover.
“I am therefore directing the state radio and television stations to ensure that the people have adequate understanding of the scheme through their news and programmes.
“I am also directing the Director Information in the ministry, to liaison with zonal and local information officers to ensure that the poor and vulnerable are adequately mobilized,” he said.
Speaking earlier, Goni said the fund served to increase the fiscal space and overall financing of the health sector, to assist Nigeria achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“The aim of BHCPF is to, within the next three years, contribute to meet the targets of the National Health Strategic Development Plan”.
“The target beneficiaries must be poor and vulnerable, who are expected to be electronically enrolled into the scheme.
“Beneficiaries are to be selected from the National Social Register, National Bureau for Statistics and State Sponsored Means of Targeting”, she said.
Goni said the state’s Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, had targeted more than 22,000 beneficiaries in its ongoing enrollment into the programme, across the 17 local government areas of the state.
She said the package covered antenatal care, prevention, screening for communicable diseases, treatment of minor diseases, curative and referral services.
She listed other health care achievements of the state to include; the ongoing construction of Maternal Newborn and Child Health complex at the State Teaching Hospital, Damaturu.
“Additionally, the administration is also constructing, upgrading and rehabilitating 53-ward focal Primary Health Care Centers.
“His Excellency has also supplied customized Tricycle Ambulances for emergency transportation of Women in Labour,” she said.
The director said she was at the ministry to solicit the commissioner’s support in educating the general public on the BHCPF and other services of the Ministry of Health.
