By Mariam Ekom
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi A. Sule has directed the Nasarawa State Health Insurance Agency (NASHIA) to urgently address the challenges faced by enrollees of the state health insurance scheme. He gave the directive during a town hall meeting in the Wamba Local Government Area, emphasizing the need to provide quality and affordable healthcare for all residents.
Represented by Barr.Usman Alhassan Lamus, the Wamba Local Government Council Secretary, Governor Sule stressed that ongoing sensitization efforts are aimed at ensuring every resident has access to healthcare services without suffering financial hardship.
The Executive Secretary of NASHIA, Dr. Yahaya Bawa Ubam commended Governor Sule for his unwavering support to the health sector. Dr. Ubam was represented at the event by Pharmacist Kaki Maikudi Kudu, who highlighted the rights and privileges of enrollees and urged beneficiaries to speak up whenever they experience poor service delivery.
Pharmacist Kudu expressed dissatisfaction with some healthcare facilities that render substandard services despite receiving prompt payments from the agency. He reaffirmed NASHIA’s commitment to ensuring quality healthcare for all enrollees.
Also speaking, the Director of Marketing and Business Development, Mrs. Hadiza Dogara explained the benefits of the scheme and encouraged residents to enrol, noting that the initiative is strengthening healthcare delivery at the grassroots level.
Mrs. Dogara assured that NASHIA values the support of individuals and organizations, urging them to prioritize health insurance coverage. She highlighted the dangers of untreated illnesses due to lack of funds, citing cases where families have lost loved ones because they could not afford medical care.
On her part, Hon. Wamu Stephen Adams, Personal Assistant to the Governor, expressed appreciation to Governor Sule for the opportunity to serve and pledged his commitment to promoting the health insurance scheme.
NASHIA’s affordable plans include individual coverage at the cost of ₦12,000 per year. The agency aims to enrol 500,000 residents by 2027, with over 242,946 residents already registered.
The agency’s mission aligns with Governor Sule’s vision of delivering quality healthcare services to the people of Nasarawa State. NASHIA continues to engage residents, address operational challenges, and promote health awareness across the state.
