NACWYCA Urges Doma Residents to Enroll in Nasarawa State Health Insurance Scheme

By Johnson Umishi

The Centre for Women, Youth, and Community Action (NACWYCA) has called on residents of Doma Local Government Area to enroll in the Nasarawa State Health Insurance Scheme, emphasizing the importance of avoiding out-of-pocket payments for healthcare services.

In collaboration with the Marketing and Business Development Department of the Nasarawa State Health Insurance Agency (NASHIA), NACWYCA conducted an advocacy and sensitization campaign on Tuesday. They urged the community to register for the health insurance scheme, highlighting its numerous benefits.

Enareroje Augustina, Program Coordinator at NACWYCA, described the Health Insurance Scheme as a financial safety net, allowing residents to address health issues without experiencing financial strain.

She underscored that for only N12,000 per year, individual from the informal sector can access the same comprehensive healthcare benefits as those in the formal sector.

Emphasizing the necessity for enrollment, Augustina also appealed to wealthier members of the community to participate in the NASHIA adoption initiative, which allows them to assist less fortunate community members by covering their premiums.

She expressed gratitude to local organizations and community leaders, including the Doma chapters of Jama’atu Nasir Islam, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Doma Palace delegation, and various market and community organizations, urging them to spread the message further within their networks.

During the event, Doma Council Chairman Hon. Jonathan Okuba Addra commended the Nasarawa State Government for launching this significant initiative and assured the council’s commitment to its success.

He emphasized the importance of community support for the scheme, stating that it would ultimately benefit the people of Doma by providing financial protection and reducing out-of-pocket healthcare spending.

Hon. Jonathan reiterated the commitment of the state chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to adopt vulnerable individuals into the scheme, pledging to also adopt some weaker residents and cover their premiums personally.

The event concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, featuring representatives from NASHIA, including Akashe Abdullahi Ari, as well as Mr. Victor Emmanuel Alebura from the Local Health System Sustainability (LHSS) Project, among others.