Gombe State government has stated its willingness to enroll Keke NAPEPs and Achaba Riders in a contributory health insurance scheme known as ‘GOHEALTH’ introduced by the state government.
State commissioner for health Dr Habu Dahiru stated this during a sensitization organized for Keke NAPEPs riders association in the state on the scheme.
He said the idea to enrol the riders is due to the nature of their job which makes them vulnerable and prone to accidents noting that each of them can get registered with payment of the sum of N10, 000.
According to him, the benefit of the scheme is that the registered persons will get free consultation, investigations and purchase their prescribed drugs at the facilities by paying just 10 per cent of the price.
Dahiru revealed that so far over 100, 000 people including the vulnerable group, internally displaced persons and civil servants have been enrolled in the scheme saying they are now extending it to cover the informal sector so that universal health coverage will be achieved in shortest possible time in the state.
“It will be all inclusive for us to achieve universal health coverage. We started with the public sector and now we are coming to the informal, then the students group and everybody will be carried along. The whole essence of universal health coverage is to make everybody access health care irrespective of his status”. He said.
Also speaking, the chairman Keke NAPEPs riders association of Gombe State Mohammed Abdullahi Sarki expressed appreciation to the state government for making them among the first beneficiaries of the scheme. He stated that the association has not fewer than 8, 000 members in the state.
