No fewer than 65,000 vulnerable residents across the 25 Local Government Areas of Niger State are expected to benefit from free health insurance coverage as the Niger State Contributory Health Agency (NiCare) begins the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) Vulnerable Group Enrollment Campaign.
Speaking during a press briefing ahead of the official launch of the exercise, NiCare Executive Chairman, Sulaiman Abubakar, said the 93-day enrollment campaign will target vulnerable groups in the state's 274 wards, including informal sector workers, nursing mothers, small-scale farmers and persons living with disabilities.
According to Abubakar, the initiative is aimed at expanding access to healthcare services and reducing the coverage gap among vulnerable populations in the state. He said registered beneficiaries will receive free healthcare services at designated health facilities under the programme.
The NiCare Executive Chairman said the agency has recorded significant outcomes through its health insurance interventions. According to him, 298,235 malaria cases have been treated at primary healthcare centres, while 106,547 pregnant women have accessed antenatal care services. He added that 20,927 safe deliveries have been recorded, 68,307 children have been immunised, 87,196 typhoid cases treated, 42,824 chest infections managed and 35,600 diarrhoea cases treated. He also said thousands of patients have been screened and referred for hypertension, diabetes and other medical conditions.
Abubakar further stated that interventions at secondary healthcare facilities include 1,478 Caesarean sections, 2,325 hypertension treatments, 2,070 diabetes cases, 1,165 severe malaria treatments and 3,878 patient referrals.
To improve transparency and accountability, he announced that NiCare will begin publishing, on a facility-by-facility basis, details of funds released for the treatment of enrolled beneficiaries.
The Executive Chairman also disclosed that the First Lady of Niger State, Hajiya Fatima Mohammed Bago, has accepted to serve as the agency's State Health Insurance Ambassador and is expected to officially launch the enrollment campaign during World Breastfeeding Week.
Abubakar commended the Niger State Internal Revenue Service (NGSIRS) for supporting the programme, noting that tax revenue and internally generated revenue play a vital role in sustaining health insurance and expanding access to quality healthcare across the state.
He also appealed to journalists to raise public awareness about the campaign and encouraged eligible residents to take advantage of the free enrollment. He urged communities to monitor healthcare services and promote accountability among service providers.
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