February 17, 2015 – Health professionals in Nigeria have criticised the Federal Government(FG) over low enrollment of Federal workers in the National Health Insurance Scheme(NHIS).
Health Professionals Decry Low Patronage of NHIS by FG
Leading a panel of other health professionals at the Lagos State Council on Health, Professor Friday Okonofua, a consultant with Ford Foundation said only three percent of workers employed by the FG across the federation are enroled in the NHIS.
He explained that of all the 36 states including Abuja, only four states have embraced the scheme and that Lagos stands out with the highest enrolment so far.
He said that Lagos also stands out as the only state that has embarked on neonatal review and called on the state government to document the findings so that other states can benefit from it.
Speaking at the event, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola enumerated the achiement of his government to include completion of seven maternal child care centre in eight years adding that three others will be completed before year ending.
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While acknowledging the role Lagos state has played in the eradication of Ebola Virus Disease(EVD) from Nigeria, the governor said one of the lesson he learnt during the outbreak of Ebola was that human civilisation will never be free from infection but that man must fight it.
He said the area that the capacity of Lagos was tested is in area of epidemic and infectious disease but that he is proud to have led in that onslaught.
He paid tribute to families of those who lost loved ones in th Dana Air crash and thanked workers in the health sector for assisting in identifying the victims for the families thus preventing the usual practice of mass burial.
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