The National Youth Service Corps has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with the National Health Insurance Scheme on the inclusion
of Corps Members in the NHIS programme.NYSC
Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim who stated this when
he led a delegation of the management of the Scheme to the Headquarters
of the NHIS in Abuja, today commended the Federal Government over its
concern for Corps Welfare.
He said the signing of the MoU is in line with Presidential directive
that all Corps Members must be enrolled in the NHIS programme.
“This shows the concern for the welfare of the Corps Members by the
Federal Government and we are thanking the President for his uncommon
love for the Scheme.
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.
We want to thank the NHIS for this partnership and we are going to take this partnership to the next level”, he said.
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 negative are allowed entry into the
camps, while those that test positive 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 of 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 makes it not mandatory,
but efforts are on-going to have a clear pathway for universal
healthcare that will be mandatory for all Nigerians.
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