Day: May 26, 2024

Dr Kelechi Ohiri, the Director-General, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), reviewed the progress and challenges of Nigeria’s health insurance scheme since its inception in 1999.

This is because in spite of advancements, significant issues such as low coverage, uneven distribution, and persistent quality concerns continue to hinder the scheme’s effectiveness.

Ohiri reviewed the scheme on Friday in Abuja at the NHIA Strategic Stakeholders Engagement, in collaboration with Nigeria Universal Health Coverage Forum and Local Health System Sustainability (LHSS) Project Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NHIA Act was signed into law on May 19, 2022, repealing the National Health Insurance Scheme Act of 2004 which addresses some of the challenges of the old law, by providing for mandatory health insurance and establishing the Vulnerable Group Fund.

It also transforms the NHIA into a promoter, integrator and regulator of all health insurance schemes in Nigeria.

The review of the NH
IA by the director-general is, therefore, in line with the desired goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria with the theme ‘The NHIA Act: Two Years After – Reflections and Future Direction.’

The review was to reflect on the past, assess the present situation and share a common vision for the future of health insurance in the country.

Ohiri, therefore, underscored the transformative shift introduced by the NHIA Act, which mandates health insurance for all Nigerians, establishes state-specific schemes, creates a vulnerable group fund, and enhances the NHIA’s regulatory functions.

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He pointed out that while 62 per cent of the formal public and private sectors are covered, the large informal sector lags with only one per cent coverage.

He said that expanding healthcare access to the informal sector and vulnerable populations remain a critical objective.

He explained that going forward, NHIA’s vision to achieve universal health cove
rage would focus on enforcing mandatory insurance, increasing public awareness and trust in the system, improving quality standards and market efficiency, as well as operationalise funds dedicated to vulnerable groups.

He reiterated NHIA’s commitment to transparency, setting robust standards and regulating the fragmented health insurance landscape.

He, however, noted that achieving these goals require collective efforts from stakeholders.

He called for regular hosting of interactive stakeholder sessions, saying ‘we must come together routinely to address challenges in Nigeria’s health insurance landscape through consistent dialogue and collaboration.’

Dr Bolanle Olusola-Faleye, the Chief of Party, LHSS, said it was an opportunity for essential investments in Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Initiative, particularly on financial risk protection for the poor and vulnerable.

The NHIA strategic stakeholders engagement panel discussion was moderated by Gafar Alawode, the Director of DGI Consult Limited, which
featured representatives from Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs), state health insurance schemes, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

Alawode said that the panel aimed to foster collaboration to enhance coverage in alignment with NHIA’s vision for health insurance in Nigeria.

Dr Francis Ukwuije, the Health Economist, WHO Nigeria, stressed the importance of prioritising data on key health insurance programme outputs, such as healthcare service usage, to support informed decision-making.

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Meanwhile, Dr Mustapha Lecky, the Chairman, Health System Reform Coalition of Nigeria (HSRCN), said the organisation is collaborating with other groups to achieve their mandates.

Lecky said that as an umbrella of coalition, HSRCN believes in collaboration, partnerships, support, planning and strategic approach.

He called for more deliberate engagements to drive advocacy and progress under the NHIA Act.

Earlier on Friday at the Ministerial Sectoral Brie
fing to mark the first anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Prof. Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, highlighted key achievements of NHIA.

Pate said ‘the NHIA is being repositioned to increase insurance coverage for all Nigerians, with particular focus on the poor and vulnerable. Currently, 1.8 million Nigerians are covered through the Vulnerable Groups Fund at the NHIA.’

He added that ‘forthcoming reforms will strengthen NHIA, which will target expanding private health insurance for the informal sector and strengthening Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs), in collaboration with State Social Health Insurance Agencies (SSHIA).’

He also said that ‘the NHIA’s involvement in funding and equipping primary healthcare centres will ensure they provide skilled birth attendants and essential services.

‘It will support training programmes for health workers, ensuring they have the necessary skills and infrastructure to deliver quality care, particularly in rural a
reas.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Elderstateman, Edwin Clark, on Saturday, re-echoed his call for restructuring to tackle the current security, socioeconomic and other challenges facing the country.

He made the call during a church thanksgiving service held to mark his 97th birthday anniversary.

Clark, a former Federal Commissioner of Information, who was happy to attain the age of 97, said that as the National Assembly reviews the 1999 Constitution, it was necessary to consider restructuring.

‘This country must be restructured. President Bola Tinubu should face the political problem of this country for the development of all regions.

‘This country has to be restructured so that everybody will be equal; so that every Nigerian can aspire to the position he wants to be.’

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) Leader, who expressed joy at 97 said, ‘I feel very happy; very much reassured about my own life. I feel very much fulfilled and I give thanks to Almighty God that I am 97.

‘I appreciate those who are taking care of my welfare and my secu
rity. I thank Nigerians too’.

He also called for a more united Nigeria where there would be more jobs created for the youths.

Earlier, Reverend Canon Bola Ogunyannwo, Assistant Priest of Saint James Anglican Church, described the celebrant as an individual who has dedicated his life to serving God.

‘He is a very humble man who God has blessed to achieve a lot for our nation. Who has sponsored so many people to rise to greater positions.

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‘Politically, he has done his bit,’ he said.

Ogunyannwo also said that so far, President Tinubu has achieved a lot with the signing of people-centred bills adding that a lot of other progress has been realised.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Labour Party (LP), has recognised and rewarded 150 individuals and support groups in FCT who contributed to its success in the 2023 general elections.

Mrs Joy Ohiomero, a leader of the party in Abuja-South, said at the Luncheon/Award ceremony on Saturday in Abuja, that the awards were to recognise the trust, loyalty, support and contributions of the supporters.

Ohiomero had sought for the party’s ticket to contest the House of Representatives seat, but failed in that bid.

‘This award is to recognise the contributions of both individuals and groups who supported me during my campaign and other activities at the 2023 elections.

‘I understand that gratitude unlocks the doors for more support and that is why I have decided to recognise and appreciate those who ran the race with me on the platform of the LP.

‘From the local government agents, to the volunteers, the support groups, foot soldiers, women leaders, youth groups, elders and advisers of the party, I am grateful.

‘I am grateful and LP is gratefu
l for the support,’ she said.

She also appreciated those who were not selected or nominated for the award, adding that their support was also recognised by the party but due to limited funds, the awardees had to be few.

She urged the award recipients not to relent in their support for candidates of the party, especially as the local government election was fast approaching.

Mr Peter Diugwu, LP Chairman in FCT, commended the former candidate for the initiative to recognise and reward individuals and groups who supported her political aspiration in the last election.

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He urged the award recipients to see the recognition as an impetus to garner more followers and supporters for the party ahead of future elections.

Mr Joshua Obika, who represents AMAC in the House of Representatives, lauded the efforts of the former candidate in attempting and contesting in the 2023 election, and urged her to remain focused in her political aspiratio
ns.

‘Madam Joy ran the election without any prior experience or fear and we can say she did well and the experience of 2023 is only a stepping stone towards greater achievement,’ he said.

He urged the youths to emulate her by joining a political party and pursuing their political ambition without fear of being intimidated because of inexperience.

Mr Chibike Moses, LP Chairman in Gwagwalada, commended the party and the former candidate for recognising the contributions of supporters, and urged the party to remain focused on its vision and mission for Nigeria.

Recipients of the awards thanked the former candidate and the party for the recognition.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Dr Kola Balogun, the Chairman of Equipment and Protective Applications International Ltd (EPAIL), says Nigeria is on its way to achieving local requirements in defence production and capabilities.

Balogun, who is also the Secretary General, Defence Industry Association of Nigeria (DIAN), said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja.

He said the new Defence Industry Cooperation of Nigeria (DICON) Act had provided the opportunity for the local firms to utilise local capacity to boost the nation’s defence production.

He also lamented that DICON had, since 1964, remained unproductive until the new law was signed by President Bola Tinubu.

According to him, DICON would have been so mandated since 1964 to produce defence targets or capability for the country as the equivalent of such industry in Brazil has been producing aircraft and so many other things.

‘But ours still remain unproductive,’ he lamented.

Balogun said the nation’s military had, for so long, depended solely on forei
gn capability, adding that the government had, for that reason, put up an executive order to involve private sector driven.

‘We needed to repeal the DICON Act which this present administration signed into law.

‘It was this development that forced the private sector to beef up the capacity and capability to venture into investing into development of various defence equipment, capability, gadgets, weapons, and so on.

‘EPAIL, which is one of the members of DIAN, has done so well to go and learn about capability and standard.

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‘There are global standards that midwife the defence development all over the world and that is why the investment on the construction or manufacture of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) or light armoured vehicle for the country is inevitable in line with the global standard.

‘We have put in so much energy, so much peculiarity to address some of the insurgencies since most of our war are asymmetric and because of that, we design a vehi
cle that is capable of higher maneuverability and little risk for all our troops.

‘So, our troops in this vehicle will not necessarily come out. They will be able to disengage the enemy right inside the vehicle while they are safe,’ he said.

The EPAIL boss commended President Bola Tinubu for encouraging local defence development in terms of capability.

He said the Light Armoured Personnel Carrier (APCs) vehicles recently produced and delivered to the military could resist AK 47 and some other light ammo weapons with sophisticated electronic sensor that could detect a proximity IED.

‘We have delivered 20 and they have given us another 20 orders to produce and some other services are actually trying to purchase more.

‘We have also produced some missile drones that we are going to supply to the defence industry very soon,’ he added.

Balogun said there was need for reassurance in terms of advocacy so as to encourage all arms of the military to believe in the development of local capabilities.

He also urged
the federal government to encourage more investors to come and invest in the defence industry, adding that its funding methodology was different.

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He envisioned a Nigerian defence industry that would start getting recognition by at least African countries in the nearest future.

According to him, EPAIL recently supplied the UN with ballistic vest and element.

‘Ghana is talking to us now to come and buy some of the fragmented jackets in the country.

‘It means they are now having confidence in what we are producing because we are now producing to standard,’ he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Media Coalition and Awareness to Halt Trafficking (MeCAHT), an international NGO in collaboration with the Embassy of Denmark in Nigeria on Friday premiered a documentary film in Abuja to create awareness against human trafficking.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the movie titled ‘I wish I knew’, had in attendance anti- human trafficking stakeholders.

The Denmark Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Sune Krogstrup told NAN that the documentary was one of Denmark’s numerous ways of supporting public awareness/preventive outreach against the menace.

‘Denmark has been a supporter of the organisation MeCAHT who is producing advocacy initiatives aimed at combating trafficking and irregular migration.

‘This is really about spreading the word about what trafficking is and how it looks, so that people who are vulnerable to it are able to spot it,’ he said.

Earlier, MeCAHT international Executive Director, Ms Anne Abok stressed the need for stronger synergy among stakeholders to curb human trafficking, w
hich she describes as an endemic form of modern slavery.

‘We have always worked in partnership and we believe that the fight against human trafficking can never thrive when we work in silos.

‘So when we work and form partnerships, then we can see good results.

‘This film is studded with survivals of human trafficking. In the course of our work we discovered that our voices is not exactly the voices that prevent human trafficking, but the voices of survivals, when they share their experiences,’ she said.

Abok emphasised the need for rehabilitation, psychosocial support and empowerment for victims of trafficking, so that they can get their lives back together and also contribute in the advocacy against the crime.

NAN reports that the documentary film chronicles the touching story of four Nigerian survivors of human trafficking who share their

tragic stories.

It paints a gory picture of human trafficking, exposes the tricks of traffickers and showcases ways to curb the crime.

The premiere was attended by
stakeholders including International Organization for Migration (IOM), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), NGOs among others.

The film which is produced by MeCAHT in partnership with EXIST and funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of

Denmark, will also be screened in five other most vulnerable states to ensure the awareness gets to the grassroots.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Olumide Braithwaite, the only son of late elder statesman and legal luminary, Tunji Braithwaite, has survived a ghastly auto accident in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident, which occurred on Thursday near the CBN headquarters, involved a buillion van and a Hilux pickup truck.

Braithwaite, a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and strong member of the party’s media team during the presidential campaign, was said to have lost consciousness at the scene of the accident.

NAN reports that emergency services responded promptly and took Braithwaite to the Garki Hospital where he was revived and now responding to treatment.

The family, in a statement on Sunday, confirmed that Braithwaite was now in a stable condition and responding to treatment.

It said Braithwaite was receiving the best possible care, adding that the medical team had expressed optimism about his recovery.

‘Mr Olumide Braithwaite and his family are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support and well
wishes from friends, colleagues and the public.

‘They request privacy during this time as he focuses on his recovery. Further updates will be provided as necessary,’ the statement said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria