NHIS: NYSC unveils health insurance for corps members

The National Youth Service Corps on Friday unveiled the enrolment of corps members into the National Health Insurance Scheme under the NYSC Group Individual Family Social Health Insurance Programme.

The organisation said the health initiative had been designed as a holistic health insurance scheme, covering the periods of pre-orientation, which means as soon as a Prospective Corps Member picks up Call-up Letter, which is the instrument that qualifies him/her for admittance into National Service, until the end of his/her terminal leave, which is three weeks after disengagement from Service.

The NYSC said six Health Maintenance Organisations had been selected from each of the six geopolitical zones to drive the process and ensure effective implementation of the NHIS.

The NYSC urged corps members to register under Health Care Practitioners in their localities.

The Director-General of the NYSC, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim, during the event, said the health scheme was the culmination of the Presidential directive issued in 2016, which arose as a result of the unfortunate deaths of three corps members deployed to Kano, Zamfara and Bayelsa states orientation camps.

He said the loss of any corps member as it were, provokes sadness in the NYSC, saying it leaves the scheme “highly diminished”.

Ibrahim said, “The issue of a robust and sustainable health care system for corps members has always been of paramount importance to successive management of the scheme.

“The unveiling is the culmination of the Presidential directive issued in 2016, which arose as a result of the unfortunate deaths of three Corps Members deployed to Kano, Zamfara and Bayelsa States Orientation Camps. The loss of any corps member as it were, provokes sadness in us, leaving the scheme highly diminished.

“Corps members, who represent the most critical part of our demography – the youths, are the leaders and builders of tomorrow. Consequently, any government policy aimed at uplifting this group is akin to building the future of our dear country, Nigeria. It is particularly fulfilling that the enrolment of corps members into the Health Insurance Scheme is in line with the policy thrust of my Administration bordering on the improvement of welfare and security of corps members and Staff.

“This health initiative, known as NYSC Group Individual Family Social Health Insurance Programme, has been designed as a holistic health insurance scheme, covering the periods of pre-orientation, that is, as soon as a prospective corps member picks up Call-up Letter, which is the instrument that qualifies him/her for admittance into National Service, until the end of his/her terminal leave, which is three weeks after disengagement from Service.

“For effective implementation of this scheme, six Health Maintenance Organisations have been carefully selected after a competitive process for each of the six geopolitical zones to drive the process. To ensure a seamless arrangement devoid of encumbrances, corps members are expected to register under Health Care Practitioners in their localities. It is, therefore, my expectation that both the HMOs and Health Care Providers will approach this insurance scheme with the highest degree of responsibility and integrity.”

The Director-General assured that management of the NYSC “will leave no stone unturned in order to ensure that all, who have roles to play in this initiative, carry them out with patriotic zeal so as to meet the expectations of the government.”

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