By Our Reporter
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the National Health for Insurance Scheme (NHIS) have signed a has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to include Corps Members into the NHIS programme.
Speaking when he paid a working visit to the NHIS headquarters in Abuja, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim opined that the Federal Government is committed in improving the welfare of Corps Welfare.
He said the signing of the MoU is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that all Corps Members must be enrolled in the NHIS programme.
We also promise that our Corps Members are going to render more selfless service to the country. This is going to inspire them to do more for their fatherland.
Speaking further, Ibrahim said the partnership with NHIS is going to cushion the health needs of the Corps Members in their different states of service.
He added that the Scheme is already in partnership with several stakeholders, including the NCDC whereby all Corps Members are tested for COVD-19 before admittance to the orientation camps, alongside other camp officials.
He said only those that test positive are allowed entry into the camps, while those that test negative are taken to the isolation centres by the NCDC and State Health officials for treatment and care.
“This partnership has helped the NCDC in COVID-19 data analysis in the country”, lbrahim said.
The Executive Secretary of the NHIS, Prof. Mohammed Nasir Sambo said every Nigerian should be included in the healthcare delivery of the Federal Government.
He added that the NYSC and NHIS had worked assiduously through a joint technical team towards the development of a blueprint for the necessary financial provisions.
“We decided to sign an MOU so that the responsibilities of the two agencies will be clearly spelt out in order to have a hitch-free implementation”, the Executive Secretary said.
He commended the Federal Government for increasing Corps Members’ allowances, adding that the provision of a free medicare will spur them into higher level of service delivery to their fatherland.
“We call on the Corps Members to reciprocate this gesture and rededicate themselves to national service.
NHIS is growing, as different associations are signifying interest in the Scheme”, he said.
Prof. Sambo said as a result efforts by the NHIS to deepen the implementation of the rebranding agenda in the agency, it has developed a five-tenure strategic plan among other innovations.
He disclosed that the NHIS and State Health Insurance Agencies are developing a new initiative tagged; “Health Insurance Under One Roof”, where the two agencies would ensure adequate free medicare for all Nigerians.
He said that the law establishing the NHIS is not mandatory, but efforts are on-going to have a clear pathway for universal healthcare that will be mandatory for all Nigerians.