The Niger State Contributory Health Insurance Agency (NiCare) has organised a workshop to review and update its operational guidelines to align with the New Niger Agenda of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago-led administration.
Addressing participants in Minna, the state capital, the Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Dr Ahmed Ibrahim Dangana, underscored the importance of health insurance in ensuring quality healthcare services.
Dr Dangana, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Abdullahi Usman Imam, highlighted that the state has approximately 2,000 healthcare facilities spread across its nooks and crannies. Of these, 274 are supported by the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHPF). He further noted that the current administration has initiated the upgrading of 100 of these facilities to level-two status to enhance healthcare services.
He assured continued collaboration with NiCare and commended the Executive Secretary and his team for initiating the guideline review. He stated that this effort reflects the New Niger Agenda’s objectives, evident across all state sectors.
NiCare’s Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Sulayman Abu-Bakr, explained that the review of the four-year-old guidelines was necessary to align with the New Niger Agenda and fulfil the agency’s mandate of improving livelihoods.
Dr. Abu-Bakr outlined NiCare’s four-point agenda aimed at ensuring the agency is fit-for-purpose. He emphasised that the updated guidelines would lead to more efficient and accountable operations.
Dr. Abu-Bakr reiterated NiCare’s vision to protect residents from financial hardships caused by medical expenses, ensuring healthcare accessibility for all, regardless of socio-economic background. He highlighted that the review is crucial for NiCare to provide affordable, quality healthcare to every resident of Niger State.
“Through today’s workshop, we aim to refine our approach, aligning it with both our guiding principles and the New Niger Agenda, which prioritises improved livelihoods for our citizens,” he declared.
He further emphasised his administration’s commitment to equitable access to a basic healthcare package, focusing on a client-centred, accountable, and financially protective healthcare system that addresses the diverse needs of the state’s population.
“Our task is to ensure everyone, even in the remotest areas, has access to high-quality healthcare without financial strain,” Abu Bakr assured.
Former commissioners of health in the state, Dr. Mustapha Jibrin Alheri and Dr. Mohammed Mohammed Makusidi, who facilitated the agency’s establishment, expressed satisfaction with its progress in their separate remarks.
They noted that a robust health sector would have a positive impact on other sectors and commended the ongoing transformation under Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago in the state.
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