From Andrew Ajijah, Jos
The Director General, Plateau State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (PLASCHEMA) Dr. Fabong Jencham has said it has a total of 107,873 beneficiaries enrolled in the health insurance scheme, with a section to freely benefit.
Dr Fabong noted that the health scheme has provision for a section of persons in the society, the most vulnerable to be given healthcare without payment.
It was learned that among the premium of the state government, 2 percent of it revenue should be set aside to cater for the most vulnerable in the society.
“This shall be a plan for the vulnerable group. These include children under five, pregnant women, elderly above 65 years, people living with disabilities mentally challenged, individuals, verified orphans and the vulnerable and the internally displaced persons.”.
“The Act provide for a minimum of 2 percent of State’s and local government consolidated revenue fund to provide services to these group free.”
PLASCHEMA director general made the disclosure in a one day inter-face with the media, civil society and other stakeholders in Jos, Plateau State recently.
Speaking at the forum, the guest speaker at the media engagement, Yakubu Tarddy, who is the Director of News and current affairs Plateau Radio and Television in a lecture urged PLASCHEMA to make public beneficiaries of the scheme speak about the health insurance scheme as a means of encouraging other citizens to enroll.
Mr. Taddy noted that the scheme is a welcome development, particularly that it has subsidy for health care services, which is a need for all the living.
The Director of News and current affairs Plateau Radio and Television called on his colleagues to promote activities of PLASCHEMA through constant reportage.
Earlier, a management staff of the PLASCHEMA who anchored the programme Solomon Kwakfa, solicited the media and civil society members to engage the public to enroll in the health insurance scheme.
Participating Journalists, cut across broadcast, print and bloggers were charged to periodically, investigate and report activities of the health Insurance scheme as a means of promoting universal health coverage.
