The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Director General, Dr. Mohammed Sambo has advocated for an oil block to be given to the agency to fund the over 83 million vulnerable Nigerians.
He opined that if the government could give oil blocks to individuals, why can’t it give them to 83 million vulnerable Nigerians? Saying, a retired General told us some time ago how he sold his oil block for $500 million.”
He made this known while addressing the Association of Nigeria Health Journalists (ANHeJ) at its 6th Annual Conference in Akwanga, Nasarawa State.
The National Health Insurance Authority boss who was represented at the occasion by Mr. . Emmanuel Ononokpono, the Public Affairs Manager stated that the Act gives hope to 83 million vulnerable Nigerians to be captured without giving the agency the wherewithal to go about it.
According to him: “If government could give oil blocks to individuals, why can’t it give to 83 million vulnerable Nigerians? A retired General told us some time ago how he sold his oil block for $500 million.”
“Or one Kobo per second on all calls to be channelled to fund the 83 million vulnerable Nigerians.
“You can’t have universal health coverage without making it compulsory. The Act gives hope to 83 million vulnerable Nigerians that cannot afford to pay for healthcare”, he said.
Sambo, however, decried the spate of coverage. The NHIA covers only 15 million Nigerians out of nearly 220 million.
He assured that the agency would continue to work until the NHIA becomes the envy of all Nigerians. If you go to the UK, the NHS is the emblem of health care delivery”.
