Jigawa Govt Provides Free Health Services for 143,500 vulnerable persons
By: Ahmed Aminu, Dutse
The Jigawa state government has released N1.5 billion for the provision of free basic healthcare services for 143,500 vulnerable persons across the 27 local government areas of the state.
This was disclosed by the Technical Adviser (TA) to the governor on health matters, Comrade Isah Surajo in a speech delivered at a one day town hall meeting with relevant stakeholders held at conference hall, new Secretariat, Dutse.
The technical adviser explained that the programme, run by Jigawa Health Equity Fund (JHEF), is meant to address the health disparities that underlies Nigeria’s health system.
“It is meant for the attainment of the highest level of health for all residents of Jigawa state, where every resident has a fair and just opportunity to attain optimal health regardless of ethnicity, disabilities, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography or other factors that affect access to care and health outcomes,” Surajo said.
According to him, the programme provides Basic Minimum Package of Health Services to the poor and vulnerable population registered under the project across the state.
He added it was in line with state’s desire to accelerate it’s journey towards achieving Universal Health Coverage.
The technical adviser said the beneficiaries include the poor and vulnerable households, pregnant women, residents of 65 years and above, people with disabilities, sickle cell, and HIV, as well as orphans.
He urged people of the state to cooperate and support the programme to ensure better health outcomes across the 27 local government areas.
In his remark, Commissioner for Health, Dr Abdullahi Kainuwa said Governor Umar Namadi’s administration had redesigned the state healthcare delivery system through massive constructions and renovations of health facilities.
“Under the JHEF project, the state government has set aside N500 million for fee health services.
“This is another project which would take care and settle any medical case of registered vulnerable persons. It is designed that the JHEF provides primary healthcare services only.
“In a situation where a registered person under this programme needs an emergency secondary or tertiary health attention, the referral facility would provide the service and government would settle the bill,” the commissioner said.
