Gov. Ortom inaugurates steering committee on NHIS

By Jimin Geoffrey

Governor Samuel Ortom yesterday inaugurated the Steering Committee on National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, to tap into the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund established by the Federal Government.

Inaugurating the committee at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi, Governor Ortom implored members to study the operational guidelines of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund in order to make Benue people have access to healthcare services.

He said the state fully embraces the Basic Healthcare Provision scheme with a view to supporting the effective delivery of Primary Healthcare Services and provision of Basic Minimum Package of health services as well as Emergency Medical Treatment for all Nigerians.

The Governor noted that the state had committed the sum of N100 Million as her counterpart fund as requirement to access N1.7 billion which would be disbursed to the Benue State Health Insurance Agency and the state Primary Health Care Board.

He stated that members of the committee are pacesetters who would build the foundation for the success of primary health and other associated social services in the state.

The Governor cautioned the committee members and other government officials against pilfering public resources under whatever guise, saying he was happy that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC now has an office in the state as he would not hesitate to handover anyone fund wanting to the anti-graft agency.

Governor Ortom commended the Federal Government for closing the country’s borders against importation of food items, saying it had already started impacting positively on farm produce, adding however that the government should move a step further by closing the borders against foreign herdsmen in order to reduce the level of insecurity in the country.

Chairman of the steering committee and Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Sunday Elaigyu said they would do their best to justify the confidence reposed in them by the Governor.

Other members of the committee include Mr. Agwaza Iorkpiligh, Apirtyu Ayaka, Moses Tor Leva, Mr. Matthew Uyina, Dr. Bem Ageda, Anthony Egwu, Joshua Otulu, Mohammed Laja, Dr. Philip Eche and Grace Ngaji.