The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has stated that it is committed to providing health insurance for the less privileged in the region, News About Nigeria reports.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the North East Development Commission, Alhaji Mohammed Alkali, disclosed this while speaking during a meeting with top management staff of the National Population Commission, led by its Chairman, Alhaji Nasir Isa Kwara, at the NEDC office in Abuja, on Monday.
He noted that arrangements have begun to enrol less privileged persons in the region in its health insurance scheme, adding that the health insurance is targeted at vulnerable households and individuals affected by insurgency across the northeastern region.
He also stated that the initiative will go a long way in supporting families in the region who were victims of the Boko Haram insurgents’ activities.
The NEDC boss disclosed that his commission has engaged the services of consultants and researchers to implement its development programmes in the region, and promised that NEDC would henceforth work with NPC to address critical humanitarian challenges in the region.
“We have discussed the need to introduce health insurance for the less privileged in the North East. One of the major issues that was discussed was how can we get data for the captive beneficiaries. Some said the World Bank data will be of help but I am sure with your commission, we will be able to get some of these data as quickly as possible so that it can assist us.
“Our decision to visit NEDC is germane as a body charged with the responsibility to generate data for socio-economic and demographic activities in the country, we are obligated to share experiences with your Commission.
“These experiences are important to the planning and execution of development programmes. Right now, the NPC is on a nationwide campaign for birth registration. And as for the conduct of the population census, we are on top of the game.
“We have geo-spatial data of the country on roads, streets, Communications masts, bodies of waters and demographic mappings on houses, and communities. This information will go a long way to assist your commission to deliver on its mandate.
“There is urgent need to address issues of poverty, out-of-school children, girl child education, internally displaced persons, inadequate infrastructure, climate change, and environmental vulnerability. The NPC has data and other necessary information that your commission could leverage on to deliver services and programmes to the people in the Northeast region,” he stated.
