The Emir of Fune, Yobe State, Mai Sale Idris Ibn Usman, has emphasized the need for Social Health Insurance Programme (SHIP) cover every individual.
The Emir said this when the Yobe State NHIS Coordinator Alh. Dabo I. Abdullahi and his staff paid a sensitization visit on Family Group Individual Social Health Insurance Programme (GIFSHIP) to the monarch at his palace in Damagum.
Mai Sale Idris Ibn Usman said Health Insurance is one among the Federal Government programmes that people have been benefitting from the most, adding that the scheme enables poor people to access quality healthcare easily.
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While describing health as wealth, he said even though no one prays for illness, as humans, it is unavoidable hence the need to prepare for it, noting that health insurance is another way of preparation for it.
The Emir promised to contact wealthy individuals and the people in high position to sponsor those that can not afford to patronize the GIFSHIP saying it will be a form of charity. He quoted verses from the Quranto support this.
The monarch also recalled the time he was Commissioner of Health in Yobe State where he attended various meetings on how health insurance would be implemented and accepted in the rural areas.
He explained the need for adequate social mobilization to enable people accept and patronize the GIFSHIP.
The Yobe State NHIS Coordinator Alh. Dabo I. Abdullahi, in his presentation to the emirate, emphasized the benefit of the programme, saying it was designed to give social health insurance cover to people that are not enjoying any of the NHIS Programmes as a way of achieving the Universal Health Coverage in the country.
The Head of Programmes, NHIS Yobe, Salisu Hassan, Ph.D, said the beneficiaries of GIFSHIP will enjoy all levels of healthcare from primary, secondary up to the tertiary level when ever the need arises., adding that healthcare services will be enjoyed with little contribution annually.
