Despite the low level of support from Nigerlites, Niger State Governor Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has said that his administration will provide the necessary money to ensure the success of the State Contributory Healthcare Scheme.
During the end-of-year assessment and performance presentation for the State Primary Healthcare Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Governor Bello made this statement.
The Governor, who expressed regret at the low level of participation in the plan among Nigerlites, linked the trend to inadequate awareness of the benefits that could be derived from it and urged more people to sign up for it.
Along with a lack of knowledge, Governor Sani Bello stated he thought people had lost trust in the system and are now somewhat dubious about the entire health package.
People have lost faith in such things in light of current events in Nigeria because past experiences have demonstrated that they don’t receive value for their money when they pay for premium services.
The governor claimed that if people start to enjoy the benefits, the issue of mistrust will be a thing of the past.
He expressed hope for a positive change in which individuals would start to embrace such health incentives.
“I bet you more and more people will sign up once they realize the benefits of this contributory health system. In contrast to other parts of the world where it is fully operational and even required for people, the entire thing is relatively new to us.
While expressing optimism that the state’s health insurance program will take off soon, Governor Bello emphasized that adhering to the policy is the only way the hospitals will be adequately maintained and sustained over the long haul.
The Governor of Niger State stated that the health sector needs a significant investment of money for facilities and equipment that benefit the people, and he added that efforts were being made to ensure that the system was fully integrated into the healthcare system and that it was adequately funded.
Especially with organizations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Governor Sani Bello stated the administration he leads will continue to work with them and fulfill its duties to them.
Governor Bello urged for greater education to persuade more people to take advantage, while praising the state Ministry of Health and the Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) for being steadfast and ensuring that the state government was successful in its programs.
Dr. Mohammed Makusidi, the state’s commissioner for health and hospital services, had earlier listed the many advantages and achievements that the state government has attained as a result of its collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Dr. Makunsidi stated that being proactive is one of the requirements and prerequisites that partners and donors look at before obligated to support any state or country, adding that the state government’s support has been the driving force to actualize established targets.
The Executive Director of the NPHCDA, Dr. Ibrahim Dangana, also supported the accomplishments of the state government in his virtual presentation.
He praised the Governor Bello-led government for taking the bold step of signing the MoU, which he claimed will benefit more Nigerlites’ health.
Dr. Dangana stated that the MoU, which ran from 2017 to 2021, aimed to improve the availability of skilled labor and access to high-quality, reasonably priced healthcare products with the establishment of the state’s Drugs Management Agency (DMA), among other things. It also aimed to strengthen government health sector stewardship and leadership.