The Federal Ministry of Health under the minister of Health and Social Welfare has within the first year of the present administration added over 2.8 million people to the Health Insurance Registry in the country.
This was made known to journalists in Bauchi at the weekend by the technical assistant to the minister of health, Dr Adamu Abubakar, during a free medical outreach in Bauchi footed by the minister, Prof Ali Pate under his foundation, Chigari, in collaboration with the Nigerian Medical Association and other professional associations.
Dr Abubakar recalled that this was the 11th medical intervention in Bauchi State undertaken by the minister, revealing that during the 10th exercise, about 20,000 people in the state benefited from his efforts including surgery operations.
He said, "There have been a number of challenges within our country in the recent week. And with all the action, people are facing catastrophic expenditure. By catastrophic expenditure, we mean people are trading off between providing food on the table and medicare."
Dr Abubakar explained that the minister and his team were trying to put in place policies that would provide respite to people, especially patients, across board saying, "As an indigene of Bauchi State, he wants to give his personal support to make sure that people get some relief in this period.
"So, this outreach is going to be the 11th medical outreach conducted since July and across about 10 LGAs. And in the last 10th, about 20,000 were seen freely, and hundreds of patients were operated on. This 11th is also supposed to be a joint one with both medical and surgical interventions.
"The surgical interventions were open to hundreds of surgeries, both minor and major, and at least about 20 - 30 cataract extractions. We provided reading glasses to tens of patients depending on the boundaries and of course, free medication consultations and about 100 surgeries, both minor and major.
"This outreach is a gesture from the minister to the people of Bauchi and is being done in collaboration with Nigerian Medical Association and other professional associations.
"Every partner is aligned with the vision of the minister and they are willing to give their time and volunteer to provide free services to the teeming populace in Bauchi metropolis. This 11th one, our goal is to treat between 2,500 to 3,000 patients/services, whether pediatric or ailments, general treatment and at least hundreds to be operated for minor and major surgeries.
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"Already, those surgeries are underway. The patients were identified on the first day, and all those line investigations were done and surgeries are presently going on at the teaching hospital. I want to thank the CMD of the teaching hospital; they have always been partners in progress, truly exemplifying the leadership of the minister he is providing to the health sector.
"The minister is giving back to society, providing relief to some people who are balancing between putting food on the table and having access to medicare. We hope that other well-meaning Nigerians and philanthropists would see that there are many ways that we can all collaborate to give relief to the people."
