The Federal Capital Territory Administration has initiated the enrollment of pregnant women into the FCT Health Insurance Scheme, alongside the distribution of free delivery kits to the enrolled expectant mothers.
In a collaborative effort with the United States Agency for International Development, the launch event took place on Thursday in Abuja, aiming to curtail maternal and child mortality rates in the region.
Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, the Minister of State for FCT, emphasized the administration’s commitment to extending health insurance coverage to both the formal and informal sectors. Represented by her Chief of Staff, Dr. Abdullahi Kauran-Mata, Mahmoud highlighted that the scheme’s objective is to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare services without financial constraints for all residents.
Addressing concerns regarding delays in fund disbursement and other services to hospitals, Mahmoud urged Health Maintenance Organisations to expedite processes, emphasizing the availability of funds to facilitate seamless healthcare access for scheme beneficiaries.
Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, reiterated the importance of health insurance as a priority for the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. Fasawe emphasized the administration’s commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, particularly focusing on reducing maternal mortality rates.
Highlighting the significance of the health insurance scheme, Fasawe emphasized its coverage of antenatal care and delivery expenses, including the provision of safe delivery kits. She underscored the initiative’s aim to encourage pregnant women to register for health insurance, offering essential services at no cost to vulnerable groups.
Dr. Frances-Lois Adewumi, the FCT State Director of the USAID Integrated Health Programme, reaffirmed the agency’s support for maternal and child healthcare initiatives in the FCT. Adewumi emphasized the affordability and accessibility of quality healthcare services under the scheme, with an annual premium payment of N13,500.
Dr. Ahmed Danfulani, the Director of FHIS, outlined the scheme’s inception in 2009 and its success in enrolling over 160,000 beneficiaries from various sectors, including vulnerable groups like pregnant women and the elderly. Danfulani emphasized beneficiaries’ access to quality healthcare services from a network of public and private healthcare facilities across the region.
Mrs. Adebayo Benjamins-Laniyi, the Mandate Secretary of Women Affairs of the FCTA, reiterated the commitment to the First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s renewed hope initiative, aiming to reach all women in the 62 wards of the FCT with essential health services. She also acknowledged the ministers’ dedication to President Tinubu’s agenda on universal health coverage in the FCT.
