Gombe To Provide Health Insurance Coverage For Tsangaya, Almajiri Pupils

In furtherance of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s integrated approach to Almajiri education in the state, the Gombe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (GoHealth) has reeled out plans to provide health insurance coverage for Tsangaya and Almajiri children.

This was made known by the Agency’s Team Lead, Dr. Abubakar Musa at a courtesy visit by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tsangaya and Almajiri Education, Sayyada Amina Sheikh Dahiru.
In his address the Team Lead noted: “This visit is very timely as the Agency is about to embark on the Cohort-4 enrollment and revalidation of beneficiaries of our equity programme for the poor and vulnerable.”

“There are three entry points for the GoHealth equity programme, that is, the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), where we currently have over 50,000 beneficiaries; there is also the state equity programme, where we have been able to enroll no fewer than 1,000 persons; additionally we also have the donor-funded equity programme where individuals and organisations can come in to sponsor beneficiaries. Currently, we are in Partnership with the UNICEF Zero dose programme where we have been able to enroll a total of 10,000 beneficiaries that include Children under the age of 5 and their caregivers.”

Dr. Abubakar noted that the Almajiri pupils can benefit immensely from the Agency’s equity programme for the poor and vulnerable.

However, he advised that the Agency may not be able to cater for the total population of Almajiri in the state. Instead, it will begin with pupils of the Almajiri model schools built by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya in all 11 local government areas of the state while working towards seeking measures to expand the coverage.

In her response, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tsangaya and Almajiri Education, Sayyada Amina Shiekh Dahiru Bauchi, promised to take seriously the suggestions by the Team Lead, as this will be the first of its kind in the country and will be a model for other states going forward.

You will recall that Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has begun reformations to better the life of the Almajiri child championed, which included building at least one Almajiri model school in each of the 11 local government areas of the state, and partnering with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), to provide special ID Cards for the Almajiri children.