Director General, Plateau State Contributory Health Care Management Agency (PLASCHEMA) Dr. Fabong Jemchang Yildam
By SUCCESS SOLOMON, Jos –
The Director General, Plateau State Contributory Health Care Management Agency (PLASCHEMA) Dr. Fabong Jemchang Yildam has said Nigeria as a country is still very far from achieving the Universal Health Coverage UHC, due to low funding in the health sector, poverty, and lack of awareness among citizens.
Dr. Fabong tasked the media as a critical stakeholders to creat better awareness about UHC, and challenged policy makers to prioritize health care of citizens.
He tasked the media to also facilitate exchange of views of concerns person, about UHC to government, so that health experts could provide better ideas to achieve set goals.
PLASCHEMA boss made the disclosure on Thursday, at the third quarter annual media interaction of the health insurance for the 2022 session, which was held in Jos.
Speaking on the achievements PLASCHEMA within the three years of its existence, Dr. Fabong who is a consultant, family health physician, said the scheme is the best third insurance scheme across Nigeria, among 27 facilitating health care services.
He said the scheme has focus attention on people from the rural areas, as a means of ensuring that they have access to qualitative health care services as at when needed.
He however, revealed that 58.7 of Plateau citizens has critical health burden: and asked government to increase it financing to the health care.
The medical expert noted that most political office holders from Plateau state who are expected to assist the less privilege tackle health challenges are not helping matters.
He revealed that, apart from the Deputy Speaker of the Plateau State House of Representatives, Idris Maje, none of the federal and state legislators from the state have purchased PLASCHEMA premium for citizens to enjoy needed health services.
The health expert advised political office holders to suspend building of new primary health-care facilities, because the existing ones are not fully equipped.
Dr. Fabong worried that 96.8 percent of citizens in the state who are self employed do pay huge sum for health care services, hence the need to be enrolled them in the health insurance scheme.
According to him, “3981 households, mostly poor ones have benefited from it health care services as an insurance scheme.
“Over fifty (50) practicing Journalists in Plateau state were given premium, enlisted into PLASCHEMA health insurance scheme facilitated by the management.
“They are expected to begin enjoying the services as from October 2022.
Dr Fabong appreciated the media, which he acknowledged have greatly assisted in advocating for it programme and activities.
Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Plateau council Mr. Paul Jatau, who is also a beneficiary, in an address urged journalists to be ambassadors of PLASCHEMA with their reportage.
