Buni Launches Emergency Health Insurance Scheme for Over 30,000 Vulnerable Yobe Residents

Buni Launches Emergency Health Insurance Scheme for Over 30,000 Vulnerable Yobe Residents

By Njadvara Musa, Damaturu

Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni has unveiled a special emergency contributory healthcare enrolment scheme designed to provide life-saving medical services to 30,240 vulnerable residents across the state.

The initiative, launched by the Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (YSCHMA), is supported by the Federal Government’s Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) and targets underserved populations with limited access to healthcare.

Speaking at the official launch held on Friday in Damaturu, the Executive Secretary of YSCHMA, Dr. Babagana Tijjani, who represented Governor Buni, described the program as a critical step toward expanding healthcare access and strengthening social protection for the most vulnerable citizens.

According to him, the Emergency Contributory Healthcare Enrolment Scheme (ECHES) is aimed at removing financial and structural barriers that prevent vulnerable groups from accessing quality medical care, while advancing Yobe State’s goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by the year 2030.

“This intervention is designed to improve access to essential healthcare services for vulnerable and underserved populations, particularly those affected by years of insecurity and displacement,” Tijjani said.

He noted that special attention is being given to communities impacted by insurgency, including the Geidam, Gujba, Yunusari, Gulani, Bursari, and Karasuwa local government areas, where access to healthcare has been severely disrupted.

Dr Tijjani explained that the enrolment scheme has been carefully structured to cover key vulnerable groups. Children under the age of five account for 35 per cent of beneficiaries, while pregnant women make up 40 per cent.

Elderly individuals will represent seven per percent, physically challenged individuals three per percent, and about 14.5 per cent will cover widows, orphans, internally displaced individuals (IDPs), indigent residents and sickle cell patients.

He added that the program reflects the Buni administration’s broader vision of building a compassionate, inclusive, and equitable healthcare system that prioritises the well-being of those most in need.

“The governor’s vision is clear: no resident of Yobe State should be denied access to healthcare because of poverty, age, disability or displacement,” Tijjani stressed.

The Executive Secretary further disclosed that enrolment will be conducted across 162 political wards in the state’s 17 local government areas, with the exception of communities still facing serious security challenges.

To ensure transparency, accountability and proper targeting, Tijjani said all beneficiaries will be enrolled and verified using their National Identification numbers (NIN), a measure aimed at preventing duplication and abuse of the scheme.

Meanwhile, the Director of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) at YSCHMA, Saleh Ibrahim, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strict compliance with enrolment guidelines during an inspection visit to selected health facilities.

He described the emergency healthcare scheme as a clear demonstration of Governor Buni’s commitment to inclusive and people-centered governance, especially for the most vulnerable segments of society.

Ibrahim also highlighted the role of traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organisations, and development partners in supporting the successful rollout of the program, noting that protecting vulnerable populations is both the moral and developmental responsibility of the government.

With the launch of the emergency healthcare scheme, stakeholders believe Yobe State is taking a significant step toward strengthening its healthcare system and restoring hope to thousands of residents who have long struggled to access basic medical services.