Gombe State Government has deployed 40 midwives who graduated recently, to work in the 114 Primary Health Care facilities in the state, as contributory health scheme gets underway.
Dr Abubakar Musa, Executive Secretary, Gombe State Contributory Health Management Agency, disclosed this in Gombe, on Monday, while speaking at a joint press briefing on the commencement of the contributory health scheme in the state.
He said the posting of the midwives would boost the state’s efforts at achieving Universal Health Coverage, as well as augment the shortfall in the number of health care providers.
Recall that a National Healthcare Insurance Scheme (NHIS) delegation had recommended an increase in manpower in some facilities, ahead of the planned take-off of the formal sector contributory health care scheme in September.
The Executive Secretary disclosed that both employers and employees would have to pay 3.5 per cent of their salaries to enjoy the scheme.
“From end of May, 3.5 percent of workers salaries, would be deducted to fund the programme. The State Government has also approved 3.5 pet cent for the scheme.
“ A total of 7 percent of salaries are going to be pooled together to pay for the cost of health care of all state government employees.
“Each beneficiary should register one spouse and four biological children. But if you have more children, you need to register them as additional dependents and contribute for them,” he explained.
Dr. Habu Dahiru, Commissioner for Health, said government would maximize the services of fresh medical graduates, to boost staff strength across the state’s health facilities.
In their separate remarks at the occasion, Alhaji Isa Abubakar, Chairman, Trade Union Congress, and Mohammed Adamu of the Nigeria Labour Congress, lauded the efforts of government, saying that the unions had fully subscribed to the scheme.