FG launches insurance coverage for IDPs

In response to the need of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria, the Federal Government has commenced pilot scheme of the enrolment of the IDPs into health insurance scheme, which is a step targeted at ensuring they get integrated into the larger part of the society.

The pilot scheme kick started at Sabon Kuchingoro, a suburb of the federal capital city, which currently houses one of the camps, commenced with 80 households of six persons each making up 480 persons enrolled in the scheme.

Margarette Essien, the acting federal commissioner at the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), said the initiative was in continuation of the Federal Government’s efforts in ensuring that all the IDPs get integrated into the society and begin a new life.

Essien said the Health Management Organisations (HMOs) engaged in the services of the health insurance for the IDPs would ensure they deliver the same level of services they give to Federal Government employees and other key subscribers to the programme.

Represented by Rasheed Lawal, a director at the commission, the acting federal commissioner said the insurance scheme for the IDPs was part of the key components of the commission aimed at giving a new lease of the life to the displaced.

Explaining the key components of the standard assistance programme of the commission, she said: “There are seven components in what we call standard assistance programme for the IDPs, which include supply of food and non food items, paying a stipend to them to kick start a new life having equipped them with skills for job, enrolling them in NHIS programme, empowering them with facilities for start-ups such as sewing machine, grinding machine and referrals.

“Under referrals, we classify after profiling and registration, after which we are going to sub-divide them. Some in the age group to go back to school would be referred back to school through the Ministry of Education, while those who have built capacity in craft activities would be gainfully employed.

“The people, who have been empowered with the skills for farming, will be referred to the ministry of agriculture to kick-start that.”

Meanwhile, representatives of the Ministry of Women Affairs and United Nations Commission for Refugees lauded the initiative of the commission in ensuring IDPs are reintegrated properly to begin a new lease of life.

The HMOs on the Pilot scheme of the IPDs insurance scheme are: International Health Management Services Limited; Regenenix Healthcare Services Limited; Integrated Care Services Limited, and Health Care Security Limited.

The United Nation’s report estimates that about 4.1 million Nigerians have been displaced due largely to the insurgency that has been ravaging the country, forcing many to flee their local territory to camps established by the Federal Government.