Buhari: Less Than Five Percent of Nigerians Have Health Insurance
Buhari: Less Than Five Percent of Nigerians Have Health Insurance
*Says govt will fulfill all promises
President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that less
than five per cent of Nigerians have health insurance or risk protection
mechanism even as he pledged his government determination to reverse the trend.
Buhari, who said his government would fulfill all
the promises made to the citizens during campaign, spoke at the commencement
of the Primary Healthcare Revatilisation Programme and the inauguration of the
Kuchigoro Primary Healthcare Centre in Abuja.
The president said the Nigerian situation was
against the recommended 90 per cent coverage by the World Health Organisation
(WHO).
Buhari said his administration vision was to
reverse this 'unsatisfactory situation' and provide better care for the poor
and needy.
He assured Nigerians that his government would
continue to ensure that great numbers have access to quality basic health care
services.
Buhari said: "The provision in the National
Health Act, 2014 for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund is in the process of
being implemented.
"I also assure my fellow countrymen and women
that our administration will fulfil all the promises made to the people."
He disclosed that government had also, through the
Save One Million Lives Initiative, provided $1.5 million to each state
government and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ensure quality health care to
women and children.
"I am aware that out of pocket payment for
health constitutes over 70 per cent of total health expenditure. This is more
than the globally recommended 30 to 40 per cent.
"However, only less than five per cent of the
total population is covered by any kind of health insurance or risk protection
mechanism which is against the recommended 90 per cent coverage by the WHO,"
he stated.
Buhari said it was part of the agenda of his
government to revitalise primary health care centres across the country.
According to him, "My presence here today
demonstrates our administration commitment to put health of Nigerians as a top
priority. Our goal of revitalising the Primary Health Care Centres is to ensure
that quality basic health care services are delivered to majority of Nigerians
irrespective of their locations in the country."
The president said government would
focus more on the people living in the rural areas
and the vulnerable population in the society such as women, children under five
years of age and the elderly in collaboration with national and international
partners.
He said: "Let me state clearly that this
revitalisation programme is in alignment with the agenda of our party, the All
Progressives Congress (APC).
"We did promise to provide succour to the poor
while at the same time providing for all other segments of the society."
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