FHIS ENROLLS FCT JOURNALISTS INTO HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE
By: David Barau
The FCT Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS) has enrolled over four hundred registered Journalists in the FCT into the health insurance scheme for one full year of health insurance coverage.
This followed the additional payment of health insurance premiums for 150 registered members of the FCT council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists by the Mandate Secretary Health services and Environment Secretariat (HSES) Dr. Dolapo Fasawe and the immediate past permanent secretary of HSES Dr. Baba-gana Adam.
Speaking during the symbolic presentation of the ID card to the Chairman of the FCT council of the NUJ in Abuja, the Mandate Secretary FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat HSES, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, emphasized the importance of Universal Health Coverage and pledged continued support for journalists in the territory.
Dr. Fasawe described basic healthcare as a necessity rather than a luxury, stressing that access to essential health services should not depend on whether individuals belonged to the formal or informal sector.
According to her, no fewer than 480 journalists have been enrolled in the scheme out of the estimated 800 journalists in the territory taking the total coverage of FCT journalists to about 65% with a call on philanthropists, corporate bodies, and public-spirited individuals to help the administration attain the 100% target in the coming weeks.
“My purpose of coming here today is to ask political office holders, religious leaders and individuals who want their voices to be heard to buy health insurance for a journalist,” she added.
“Buy health insurance for a member of the press today and you will be heard loud and clear, because you are supporting those who tell your stories to the public.”
She added that the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, has zero tolerance for maternal and child mortality and has put measures in place to ensure comprehensive healthcare services, including access to cesarean sections when necessary.
“There is no reason you should carry a package for nine months, and at the point of delivery of that package, either you or the package is dented in any way.
“Basic health care should not be something that would give us headache. If we get the basic health care right, we would never have to worry about complicated health care,” she said.
Also, the Director of the FCT Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS), Dr. Salamatu Belgore, said the programme aligns with the commitment of the present FCT Administration to expand access to quality and affordable healthcare for all FCT residents irrespective of social standings.
“With N22,500 per annum, an individual can get full coverage of Health insurance as contained in the Federal Ministry of Health’s basic minimum package for healthcare service (BMPHS)” she said.
She added that the Federal government has a programme called the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) where those who cannot afford to pay for health insurance will be covered free of charge.
Earlier, the Chairperson of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, described the programme as a historic step toward safeguarding the well-being of journalists.
Ike said the initiative underscored the need to protect media professionals who play critical roles in informing society and shaping national discourse.
According to her, journalists are often at the forefront of national conversations and public advocacy, yet their welfare, particularly health needs, are frequently overlooked.
She said the scheme was designed to address that gap by providing journalists with access to quality healthcare and encourage them to prioritise their wellbeing.
The NUJ chairperson further thanked the Permanent Secretary of the FCT secretariat, Dr Babagana Adam, for pledging to sponsor an additional 50 journalists in memory of his late brother, Mohammed Alkali.
She also urged journalists selected for the first batch of enrolment to take full advantage of the opportunity to safeguard their health while continuing to serve society.
Similarly, the National President of the NUJ, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, who was also in attendance, commended the initiative, and described it as a vital intervention that will significantly improve healthcare access for journalists.
“We do not take this initiative for granted. It is a commendable step that will enable journalists to access quality healthcare services,” he said.
The NUJ President said that the scheme would enable beneficiaries to access healthcare services from primary to tertiary levels and assured that he will extend this initiative to the other 35 state councils of the NUJ to emulate the FCT.
In a goodwill message delivered on behalf of her husband, the immediate past Permanent Secretary of the FCT Health and Environment Secretariat, Mrs. Babagana Adam assured the union of continued collaboration and called on public-spirited individuals to support journalists.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke at the event expressed appreciation to the Grace Ike-led executive of the NUJ FCT Council and the FCT Health Secretariat for the opportunity to benefit from the scheme, describing it as a timely intervention that would ease the burden of healthcare costs.
The event, which took place during the NUJ FCT Congress, had over 450 members in attendance witnessed the testimonies of two beneficiaries of the scheme who recounted how the scheme saved their lives at almost no expense.
