Abel Leonard/ Lafia
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly Committee on Health has pledged to collaborate with the State Health Insurance Agency to take the message on the benefits of enrollment in the scheme to civil servants and the people at the grassroot.
Chairman House Committee on Health Hon. Usman Labaran Shafa (APC Toto/Gadabuke) made the commitment when the committee carried out oversight function to the agency in Lafia, Wednesday.
He said, aggressive sensitisation campaign is necessary towards educating the teaming populace about the importance of the program as it concern health.
Shafa commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for establishing the agency that will assist the residents in the state to have a cheap and affordable health care services delivery through contributory participation.
He called on the government to hasten the approval of the five percent set aside from the consolidated revenue to carter for the vulnerable and the seven percent government commitment for civil servants in the state for the immediate take off of the program while awaiting the three percent from the civil servants for the exercise to commence fully.
He called for the establishment of compliance unit within the agency that will be responsible for the enforcement of law against defaulters.
Speaking earlier, Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr Gaza Gwamna after appreciating the assembly for working on the bill that will help the agency in implementing its policies, says the agency is working closely with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state to ensure smooth commencement of the program before the year ends.
Gaza disclosed that the earlier the commencement of the program the better for the state, because of the fear of inflation which if care is not taking will have negative impact on the market commodities including drugs and other health equipment.
He further stated that the exercise is compulsory for all residents in the state and therefore called on the people to tap from the advantages the program is going to provide.
Similarly the committee visited Nasarawa State Aid Control Agency (NASACA) and tasked the management to think outside the box and come out with ways through which the project can be sustain if the development partners stop their funding.
The Chairman also promised to collaborate with the agency to have proper management and control of HIV in the state.
While briefing the committee on the activities of the board, the Executive Director, Dr Ruth Nabe Bello said the state government is not funding the board,as the board rely on funds from development partners.
She said, the board constituted a technical team that will work with the sex workers in the state to see how it can control the rate of spread of the virus among the people.
She appealed to the government to assist the board with parmanent office accommodation and funding for efficiency and effectiveness.
In a related development, the committee received the management of the Ministry of Health and tasked them to be transparent, openness and accountability in all their dealings.
The chairman advised them to be prudent in managing resources allocated to the ministry in order to provide excellent health services to the people of the state.
Earlier, Commissioner for Health, Pharm.Ahmad Baba Yahaya thanked the assembly for all the support it has been given to the Ministry that led to the success recorded in the fight against Covid-19 and other diseases.
He said, as part of major to fight covid-19 and other health challenges, Primary Health Care facilities across the state were renovated and upgraded for optimum service delivery.
He added that isolation centers were created in some of the facilities, Personal Preventive Equipment were purchased and supplied to facilities.
Ahmad promised to carry members along in all the activities of the Ministry for transparency and accountability.
