Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday stormed the National Assembly to demand for health insurance scheme through required legislation.
The residents led by Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretariat, Barrister Iyabo Amanda Pam, also requested for similar legislation for establishment of FCT Primary Health Care Board.
Making the requests during a courtesy visit on Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda (PDP, FCT) Pam said draft bills for the establishment of health insurance scheme and Primary Health Care Board had already been prepared by them for consideration and passage by the National Assembly.
The Secretary of Health, who was represented by the Director, Human, Personnel and Management Services, Dr Mohammed Kawu, said the bills were in line with the commitment of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to the provision of qualitative health care services to the growing population in the territory.
Responding, Aduda assured the constituents that the bills would be given expeditious consideration by the Senate and by extension, the National Assembly.
According to him, the bills would be passed through first reading on the floor of the Senate on Thursday (today).
He said the intendment of the two bills, as envisioned, was laudable as the Primary Health Care Board would facilitate equitable access to health of all the vulnerable people in the Territory, while the Insurance Bill would reduce out-of-pocket spending for health care services.
“Basic Primary Health Care delivery services are very key in an ever expanding community like the FCT, the reason why as your representative; many of such centres have been created across the six area councils.
“Be rest assured that required legislations would be effected on the draft bills for the betterment of residents of the federal capital territory,” he said.
