By Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu
As part of measures to expand population coverage and enhance enrolment into the informal sector programme for effective implementation of the Universal Health Coverage in the state, the Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (YSCHMA) has on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 inaugurated a business office in Damaturu the state capital.
In a press released by Suleiman Gambo Yusuf (Bakoro) the information and public relations Officer of YSCHMA said that, the new Damaturu YSCHMA’s business office has brought the number of the service unit of the same category into two as the agency had in 2022 established one in Potiskum town geared towards reducing the hardship that enrollees especially those from the informal sector programme may encounter.
The Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr Babagana Tijjani while commissioning the new business office said the unit would serve as a marketing hub for the agency by addressing enrollees complain, and provide opportunity for residents of the state capital to be enrolled into the scheme for effective implementation of universal health coverage in the state.
The executive secretary further said the measure was also meant to help fast track access to affordable and qualitative healthcare service delivery among the Yobe population.
Responding to questions from Journalists shortly after the event, Dr Babagana Tijjani said, “The informal sector programme is among the top health priority agenda of Governor Mai Mala Buni’s administration with a mission to ensuring that self-employed groups in the state are provided with affordable and qualitative healthcare service under the current contributory healthcare arrangement of Yobe State Government.
“YSCHMA will prioritize this going forward in the year 2024,” Dr Babagana Tijjani added.
The Executive Secretary also applauded the genuine commitment of the Executive Governor of Yobe State, Hon. Mai Mala Buni in providing people-centred healthcare service delivery and for building more sustainable health financing that will ensure individuals and communities enjoy the required health services at affordable rate.
In a unique show of commitment and philanthropic disposition, Dr Babagana Tijjani, on behalf of himself and the YSCHMA management team, pledged to identify and sponsor 20 vulnerable individuals into the contributory health scheme.
He called on the YSCHMA marketing unit to immediately commence a rigorous social marketing to promote the scheme and ensure the enrolment of more people into the contributory health scheme. The executive secretary also used the opportunity to appeal to wealthy individuals and political leaders in the state and beyond to sponsor the enrolment of vulnerable groups into the health scheme towards the attainment of universal health coverage in Yobe State.
The brief commissioning ceremony was attended by YSCHMA team and community representatives, including media organizations amongst others.
The new YSCHMA business office is located beside Yobe State Specialist Hospital popularly known as ‘General Hospital’ along Gujba road in Damaturu the state capital.
