From Linus Oota, Lafia
THE Nasarawa State government has revealed plans to establish an agency to manage the state health insurance scheme for civil servants in the state.
Briefing newsmen in Lafia yesterday during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura said he has released the sum of N40 million for the establishment of the agency.
The Governor, who was represented by the chairman of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Mohammed Aids, said government would also provide enabling environment for the private sector to participate in the scheme with a view to increasing access to healthcare delivery.
He said that a bill to that effect was already before the State House of Assembly, adding that the efforts would ameliorate the health burdens of the people of the state.
The governor explained that government had concluded plans to build comprehensive primary health care centres in all the 13 local councils and 18 local development areas of the state.
Speaking earlier, the state chairman of NMA, Dr Christopher Edeh, said the workshop was organised for members of the association to proffer solutions to the alarming rate of disease prevalence in the state.
“Our hope is to use this opportunity to review and strategise on various challenges facing healthcare delivery in the state,” he said.
Edeh added that the association would put machinery in motion to intensify sensitisation to members of the public to maintain personal and public hygiene as one of the key prevention measures.