Gov Ishaku Flags off Health Insurance Scheme, Urges People to Register for Its Facilities

 

Taraba State Governor, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku, has called on the people of the state to register enmass in the Contributory Social Health Insurance Scheme in order to have unfettered access to medical treatment.

Gov. Ishaku made the call on Thursday in Jalingo when he flagged off the health insurance scheme.

He told his audience at the event that his passion for the health insurance scheme was fuelled by his visit last year to Rwanda. What he saw there, he said, was an excellent health insurance scheme which required the people to pay only a token in order to enjoy a wide range of healthcare facilities. 

He expressed satisfaction that his passion for the scheme and determination to have it replicated in Taraba State has eventually materialised.

Governor Ishaku directed the management of the the agency to initiate steps to ensure that the poor and the vulnerable are guaranteed access to the services of the agency. 

"We must ensure that the poor are not denied access to medical treatment under this scheme", he said.

He also announced the plan of his administration to ensure that every ward in the state has a standard health clinic. This, according to him, is to take healthcare down to the doorsteps of the ordinary people in the state.

It was also an occasion for the governor to recount some of his notable achievements in the health sector.

He said the administration has renovated three General Hospitals in the state, one of which has already been commissioned. The renovated hospitals have greatly enhanced access and qualify of medical services available to the people of the state.

He also used the occasion to remind the people that Covid-19 was still very much around and urged them to continue to observe the protocols for preventing its spread.

He said Taraba State was lucky to be among the states with the lowest cases of the infection and called for vigilance among the people.

Speaking earlier, Innocent Vakkai, Commissioner for Health, said the establishment of the Contributory Health Insurance Agency has come as one of the numerous visionary programmes embarked upon by the Darius Ishaku administration.

He expressed happiness that despite the delay in midwifing the agency due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the scheme had eventually materialised and urged the people to take advantage of the scheme to maintain good health.