The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in partnership with the Benue State Health Insurance Agency (BNSHIA), is sponsoring health insurance coverage for 2,476 vulnerable persons across Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and host communities in eight Local Government Areas of Benue State.
Speaking on Friday in Makurdi during the flag-off of the enrollment exercise which took place simultaneously across the designated locations, the Executive Secretary of BNSHIA, Prof. Kenneth Korve, stated that this year’s intervention targets the listed IDP camps and host communities to provide access to free and quality healthcare services.
Prof Korve explained that the first batch of enrollment for the intervention carried out last year covered four hundred and seventy nine (479) vulnerable persons with the second batch covering one hundred and ninety eight (198) in Anyiin IDP Camp while two hundred and twenty one (221) persons were enrolled in Agagbe.
He further charged enrollment officers to ensure proper documentation by collecting and uploading beneficiaries’ National Identification Numbers (NIN) together with other relevant data for effective health care service delivery.
In their separate remarks at various enrollment centres, the Secretary of Anyiin IDP Camp, Rachael Asua, the Director, Logo Local Government Health Authority, Mrs. Nguumbur Anageede ad well as the Officer-In-Charge, Primary Health Centre (PHC) Oshigbudu, Alice Ihatokpo, commended UNICEF, BNSHIA, and Governor Hyacinth Alia for extending the intervention to vulnerable populations, noting that the initiative will significantly improve access to healthcare services in their communities.
To support the enrollment process, officials from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) were deployed to each of the participating LGAs to register vulnerable individuals who did not have NINs towards ensuring that they are not excluded from accessing affordable healthcare services.
The beneficiaries include IDPs from Gbajimba Camp 2 (154 persons), Ichwa Camp (136 persons), and Ugba Camp (65 persons).
Meanwhile, additional vulnerable persons from host communities are also to benefit. They include Mbayam in Logo LGA (400 persons), Oshigbudu in Agatu LGA (400 persons), and Jato-Aka (423 persons), among others.
