Geidam: YSCHMA, UNICEF flag-off distribution of ID cards to beneficiaries of free medical services
From Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu
Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (YSCHMA) in collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) have on Tuesday the 31st of October 2023, flagged-off the distribution of Identity cards to poor and vulnerable beneficiaries including pregnant mothers, children under 5 among others for accessing free medical services.
This effort by the agency is to enable beneficiaries to start accessing health care services in YSCHMA accredited and engaged health facilities under the YSCHMA/UNICEF health scheme in Geidam local government area of the state.
In a statement signed by the information and public relations officer of the agency Suleiman Gambo Yusuf (Bakoro) said that, YSCHMA had recently enrolled 10,000 poor and vulnerable people under the agency’s contributory health scheme supported by UNICEF in two local government areas of Geidam and Gulani.
The Executive Secretary of Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, Dr Babagana Tijjani while speaking during the flagged-off ceremony said the support by UNICEF was to provide access to free affordable and qualitative healthcare services to 10,000 poor and vulnerable beneficiaries among which are pregnant mothers, children under 5 and indigent across the two identified and selected local government areas in the state.
Dr Baba Gana Tijjani stated that with the flagging-off of the health scheme, the beneficiaries are expected to start accessing health care services across the 23 political wards of Gulani and Geidam local government areas with effect from the 1st of November 2023.
Also in a welcome address, the Director of Primary Health Care of Geidam local government area, Muhammad Luti expressed optimism that the UNICEF support will further provide more healthcare coverage for the poor and vulnerable groups in Geidam local government area.
He also said the YSCHMA/UNICEF health scheme will help accelerate the attainment of the universal health coverage as well as promote the healthcare policy agenda of Governor Mai Mala Buni in Yobe State.
The YSCHMA/UNICEF health scheme among other things will provide basic health care services to children under the age of 5 especially children with zero dose immunization in Geidam local government area.
In his keynote remark, the chairman of Geidam local government area ably represented by the Education Secretary of the local government area, Alhaji Saleh Mustapha expressed appreciation to the Executive Governor of Yobe state for his numerous interventions in the state’s health sector.
The LGA Chairman also commended UNICEF for providing resources to support Yobe state government’s drive for the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The Chairman called on the general public to support the YSCHMA/UNICEF health scheme and all other laudable commitments and initiatives by the present administration in the health sector formulated to directly and positively impact on the lives of poor and vulnerable citizens across the state.
