By Ankeli Emmanuel (In Sokoto State)
No fewer than 6000 people have been given free access to medical services in the health component of the United Nations Joint SDG social protection programme in Sokoto State, according to Mr Maulid Warfa.
Maulid, who is the UNICEF Chief of Field, Kano and Sokoto Field Office stated this in Sokoto while flagging off the formal presentation of health insurance slips to some of the beneficiaries in Gumbi, Wamakko local government area of Sokoto State.
"Together with the Sokoto State government, we identified LGAs and even beneficiaries of this intervention. And now after identifying, we are flagging of the distribution of the health insurance slips which we considered as Identity Cards for these individuals to access free health services" Maulid said.
Represented by Isah Ibrahim, Social Policy Specialist, UNICEF Field Office Sokoto, Maulid added that, the development was in continuation of the United Nations Children’s Fund, (UNICEF) United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP) World Food Programme, (WFP) and the International Labour Organisation, (ILO) workshop held earlier in Kebbi State that led to the setting up of a technical working group for the development of Sokoto State Social Protection Policy, (SSSPP).
"This programme which is a United Nations Joint SDG Fund for now will cover one-year health needs of the beneficiaries. Therefore, the total six thousand (60000) beneficiaries of this programme that are rural dwellers from Bodinga, Wamakko and Wurno local government areas will have access to their health services free of charge for the next one year.
"This joint programme has provided full coverage of their health expenses within this period based on the minimum health package that we have already agreed with the Sokoto State government and the Sokoto Contributory Health Care Management Agency (SOCHEMA) in particular.
"The services will be provided to them and like I mentioned earlier, the beneficiaries of this programme cut across sex and age. We have children under five years, we have adolescents both boys and girls to ensure equity and gender balance. We also have pregnant women, the aged ones and we have people with special needs"
While stressing that health insurance is a critical component of UN Joint SGD Social Protection Policy, Maulid said, he is optimistic that it will increase universal health coverage.
"We are working with health facilities that are accredited by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NIHS). All the facilities we are doing this programme in Wamakko, Bodinga and Wurno local governments areas of Sokoto State are fully accredited by the NHIS in collaboration with the SOCHEMA".
Reacting to the development, the Special Adviser to Sokoto State Government on SOCHEMA, Dr Amamatu Yusuf thanked the UN Joint SDG and assured that the State will sustain the initiative.
Beneficiaries on their part thanked the UN Joint SDG for showing interest in their health, as according to them, no better way to assist humanity than caring for their health need first. NNL.
