By Sunday John, Lafia
In a significant stride toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the Nasarawa State Health Insurance Agency (NASHIA) has successfully enrolled over 308,000 residents into its state-sponsored health insurance scheme. The announcement was made by Dr. Yahaya Ubam, Executive Secretary of NASHIA, during a town hall meeting in Lafia commemorating the 2025 Universal Health Coverage Day.
This figure represents a remarkable journey from the scheme’s inception in 2019 with zero enrollees to its current status as a critical pillar of healthcare access for hundreds of thousands. The growth underscores a deliberate state-led effort to dismantle financial barriers to healthcare, a primary obstacle to UHC globally.
Beyond the Numbers: Structure and Impact of the Scheme
Dr. Ubam clarified that beneficiaries are enrolled under tailored packages designed for different segments of the population:
- Public Sector: Formal employees of the state government.
- Informal Sector: A crucial inclusion for traders, artisans, farmers, and others without formal employment, who constitute a large portion of the economy.
- Vulnerable Groups: Indigent citizens identified through community mechanisms, often sponsored by the government or philanthropic individuals.
- Students: Ensuring the younger generation has access to preventive and curative care.
This multi-pronged approach is essential for true universality, ensuring no one is left behind due to their employment status or economic standing. To date, enrollees have accessed medical services across a network of 260 accredited healthcare facilities spread across all 13 local government areas of the state. This decentralized network is vital for reducing travel time and costs, making healthcare genuinely accessible in rural and urban communities alike.
Digital Transformation and Ongoing Challenges
A key driver behind the scheme’s scalability has been the full digitalization of NASHIA’s operations. This move enhances efficiency, reduces paperwork, and aims to ensure enrollees can easily verify their status, locate facilities, and access services. However, Dr. Ubam acknowledged that challenges persist. Common issues in such schemes include delayed reimbursement to healthcare providers, occasional stock-outs of medicines at facilities, and the need for continuous public awareness to ensure utilization of benefits. The town hall meeting itself was convened to obtain direct feedback from enrollees and healthcare facility owners to address these very operational hurdles.
Dr. Ubam urged accredited healthcare providers to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and quality. “The sustainability of public trust in this insurance scheme hinges on the positive experiences of every beneficiary who walks into a facility,” he emphasized.
Government and Community Synergy
The Executive Secretary commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for the political will and financial support that enabled NASHIA’s achievements. He also highlighted a powerful community-driven model: individuals who have personally adopted and paid for the enrolment of indigent persons in their communities. This public-private-philanthropic synergy is a promising model for expanding coverage to the poorest segments of society.
In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Gaza Gwamna (represented by Permanent Secretary Dr. Damina John), reaffirmed the government’s commitment. “The provision of accessible and quality healthcare services remains a top priority,” he stated, pledging continued support to help NASHIA achieve its mandate.
The Road Ahead: From Access to Quality
The town hall concluded with a question-and-answer session focusing on practical challenges in service delivery. This feedback loop is critical. Enrolling 308,000 people is a monumental feat, but the next phase is ensuring the care they receive is timely, effective, and respectful. The true measure of success for Nasarawa’s scheme will be improved health outcomes, financial protection for families from catastrophic medical bills, and a sustained culture of trust in the public health insurance system.
NASHIA’s progress offers a tangible case study for other states in Nigeria and beyond, demonstrating that with political commitment, inclusive design, and community engagement, the ambitious goal of Universal Health Coverage is attainable, one enrolled resident at a time.
(Source: NAN News)
Edited by Isaac Ukpoju
