GoHealth declares N900 million reserve in less than one year of establishment
By Dairus Samson
The Gombe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (GoHealth) has declared a reserve of 900 million naira in barely one year since the establishment of the agency.
The announcement was made during GoHealth’s quarterly review meeting with stakeholders and heads of several trade and labour unions, While emphasising on the Government’s transparency policy, the Agency’s Team Lead, Dr. Abubakar Musa disclosed that what accrues to the Agency is not hidden but for public consumption.
Musa noted that it would further boost the confidence of the general public in the Agency’s ability.
He reiterated that the Agency is ready for expansion and called on local government workers to take advantage of the scheme, he described the decision of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), not to join the scheme until their minimum wage is implemented as detrimental to them.
Musa noted that at the end of the day, they would spend more in accessing healthcare services for themselves and their families with huge financial risk, than if they joined the GoHealth scheme.
The Agency’s team lead also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the implementation of the National Health Insurance Authority Act, that made it mandatory for every resident in the country to have a health insurance, noting that was the secret to strengthening of health systems in other advanced countries such as Rawanda that has a medical health coverage of 98%.
Delivering their goodwill messages, Com. Muhammadu Bappayo Abdulmumini of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Gombe State Chapter, recounted when the scheme began it was treated with a lot of skepticism and fear, especially with the deductions but they decided to give the scheme a trial.
He noted that so far, they were surprised by the sincere commitment of the government, and all the negative expectations were phased out one after the other, as several persons have benefitted from the scheme already.
He revealed how currently Local Government workers have been calling him to demand entry into the scheme.
Staff unions of tertiary institutions across the states and NULGE, who were yet to join spoke positively about the scheme, While promising to take the message to their members.
Also speaking, Mr. Muhammad Danladi who represented the National Orientation Agency, promised to launch the GoHealth sensitisation and mobilisation programme in all their activities and media outlets.
The meeting featured interactive sessions by several association chapters in the state which include; NLC, NUT, MHWUN, ASUU, NASU, NULGE, RATTAWU, NASUP, ASUP, NASU, COEASU, PIPP, and a representative of the National Orientation Agency.
Dairus Samson, is the head of Public Relations GoHealth.
