National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has proposed over ₦190 million for Maternal and Child Health Project in its 2021 budget estimate.
The Executive Secretary, Alh Muhammad Sambo, announced this during the 2021 budget defence before the House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services.
Alh Muhammad Sambo explained that the project which would be executed at the rate of ₦12,000 per life, per annum expected to cover 410 lives across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.
He said about ₦130 million had also been proposed in the budget for a health project on the elderly, covering about 10, 235 lives across the country.
On the agency’s performance in 2020 budget, the Executive Secretary said out of the ₦164 million appropriated, only ₦72.47 million was released but has not been adequately utilised following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
Alh Muhammad Sambo also appealed to the House of Representatives to concur the National Health Insurance Mandatory Bill already passed by the Senate to enable the county achieve universal health coverage.
On his part, the Chairman, House Committee on Healthcare Services Alh Tanko Sanunu, assured the agency of the House’s support in realising its objectives. RN