As part of the policy objectives of the Fintiri led administration to providing access to quality and affordable healthcare services to the people, the Adamawa State Contributory Health Management Agency has concluded arrangements to commence enrollment of citizens.
The newly established agency came on board following the amendment of the Adamawa State Health Insurance Law number 7 of 2011 by the State House of Assembly in June, 2020 and subsequently assented to by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.
The Governor has approved 1% of the consolidated revenue of the state to provide free basic health care services to the vulnerable such as the disabled, under five children, pregnant women, the elderly from 65yrs and above as well as people living in IDP camps.
The Executive Secretary of the agency, Doctor Amos Ujulu in an interview with newsmen in Yola revealed that the statewide enrollment for the health insurance programme targeting all the citizens will be officially flagged off next month by Governor Umaru Fintiri.
He explained that the programme is free for vulnerable but for the civil servants, the agency is discussing with labour leaders and as soon as it concludes, a letter will be written to the Governor for approval and deduction will commence from their salary while those in the private and informal sectors will also make contributions.
According to him, in preparation to the commencement of the enrollment exercise, the agency has already recruited adhoc staff and their training is ongoing in addition to engaging an ICT firm, procured some hardware devices,health devices and laptops.
“His Excellency Governor Umaru Fintiri will be the first enrollee to demonstrate that the programme is for everyone and a step to achieve universal health coverage which is a global trend to ensure that people are covered to access good and quality health service without suffering financial difficulties,” he said.
Doctor Ujulu disclosed that the agency is targeting 226 primary healthcare facilities, one facility par political ward, all cottage and general hospitals across the state while the private sector also has opportunity to participate in the process.
He added that the agency will carry out an accreditation exercise on all the hospitals inline with the criteria of the national health insurance scheme (NHIS) and once they meet up, they will be engaged and after the enrollment exercise, people have the alternative to select which of the facilities to patronize.
Meanwhile, the Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency has repositioned all its health facilities and increased staff for the takeoff of the health insurance programme as directed by Governor Umaru Fintiri inline with the global best practice that Adamawa State has keyed into.
The Executive Chairman of the Agency, Doctor Suleiman Sa’idu who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in his office said the Agency will equips infrastructure, service delivery and provides drugs consumables among others as part of realizing the 11- point agenda of Governor Umaru Fintiri.
On the recent employed staff under the Agency, the Executive Chairman said they have since posted and began duty adding that their data and biometrics will be captured for salary payment commencing from Monday next week to end on the 8th of February in adherence with the Covid-19 protocols.
