Yobe Enrols 400 Vulnerable Persons In Contributory Healthcare Scheme

The Yobe State Government has enrolled 400 vulnerable persons into the Informal Sector Programme of the Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (YSCHMA) under a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative aimed at improving access to affordable healthcare.

The beneficiaries, comprising widows, orphans, elderly persons and Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs), were enrolled at a ceremony held at the Nurses Secretariat in Damaturu.

The initiative is designed to ease the financial burden of accessing medical services, particularly among vulnerable residents who cannot afford out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.

Flagging off the exercise, Governor Mai Mala Buni, represented by the Director-General of the Community and Social Welfare Agency (COYAPO), Babagana Modu Goneri, said the initiative demonstrated the government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable members of society.

He said the gesture was part of efforts to give back to the community and ensure that disadvantaged persons could access affordable and quality healthcare without financial difficulties.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of YSCHMA, Babagana Tijjani, said the initiative aligned with the state government’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), where every resident could access quality healthcare services without suffering financial hardship.

Tijjani explained that the programme was also intended to strengthen community participation in healthcare reforms, build stronger advocates for health insurance and promote sustainable solutions to healthcare challenges.

He said beneficiaries would have access to primary healthcare services, including medical consultations, laboratory investigations, maternal healthcare and essential medicines at accredited health facilities across the state.

The executive secretary called on corporate organisations, philanthropists and well-meaning individuals to support the initiative by sponsoring more vulnerable persons into the health insurance scheme.

He stressed that expanding the programme through private-sector and individual contributions would complement government efforts towards ensuring that no resident was left behind in accessing essential healthcare services.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP Correspondent, the Yobe State Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Yawudima Barma, and one of the beneficiaries, Maryam Sanusi, commended the state government for the initiative.

Barma described the intervention as timely, saying access to affordable healthcare remained a major challenge for persons with disabilities, many of whom faced financial and other barriers when seeking medical attention.

He said the enrolment would provide beneficiaries with some relief from the burden of paying for medical services and improve their access to essential healthcare.

Similarly, Maryam Sanusi expressed appreciation to the government, describing the initiative as a welcome development that would bring relief to vulnerable households struggling with the rising cost of healthcare.

She said the intervention would reduce the financial pressure on beneficiaries and give them greater confidence in seeking medical attention whenever the need arose.