The Federal Capital Territory Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS), has commenced mass enrolment of rural community dwellers in the territory
Speaking to newsmen on the sideline of a campaign in Abuja, the Director of the scheme, Dr Ahmed Dan-Fulani said that the scheme was opened to all citizens.
He said that vulnerable persons such as the poorest of the poor, pregnant women, Persons with Disabilities (PWD) would be enrolled for free.
“In the past, health insurance is an elitist affair but now it is open to all, the people in the grassroots, people in the communities who do not have access to anything before can now access healthcare.
“That is why we are taking this campaign everywhere, as you can see today, we are here with people from four Area Councils and we shall do the other two on Thursday
“The programme is for everybody whether you have money or not; that is the decision of the Federal Government for all the states of the federation.
“If you can pay, you will pay N13,000 per annum but if you are poor, pregnant women, children under age five, children in orphanages, PWD, we will enrol them free of charge,” he said.
Dan-Fulani said that traditional rulers, market groups, social registers would be used as gatekeepers to determine the poorest of the poor for free enrolment.
The Head of Dobi District in Gwagwalada Area Council, Chief Sule Sumali commended the initiative.
According to him, it is a very laudable programme and we will push the campaign so that everybody will participate.
“I feel very happy that FHIS is coming to my people in the district; many people in the communities may not even know anything like this exists.
“This sensitisation should not be limited to the towns but should also be extended to remote communities so that more persons can benefit from it,” he said.
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One of the new enrolees, Mrs Faith Johnson, who said she heard about the scheme and came to register added the process was easy and hitch free.
Johnson, who is a pregnant woman, said that the process was concluded within 10 minutes as she got her card and was ready to access healthcare.
She urged other pregnant women and community dwellers to get enrolled and enjoy access to healthcare services at their facility of choice. (NAN)
