The Kwara State government has concluded plan to finally join the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) after years of persuasion to NHIS.

This was disclosed last week by the Special Adviser to Government on Labour matters, Comrade Bisi Fakayode at a one-day interactive session organized by the management of NHIS in Ilorin to fine tune the scheme with stakeholders towards its universal coverage by 2012.

Fakayode who headed the steering committee on National Health Insurance Scheme set up by government to understudy the sensibility of state joining the scheme like other few states in the federation disclosed that his committee has submitted its report to government, assuring that Kwara has concluded all arrangements to enrol its civil servants and other citizens living in the state on the scheme.

"This period is an exciting one because it also coincides with the recent plans of the Kwara State government to implement the scheme for workers and other citizens in the state."

The labour veteran disclosed that the scheme was part of strategy of the administration of Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed to implement his medium term plan to improve the lots of citizens.

He explained that as part of bold initiatives to surmount the development challenges confronting the state, especially the provision of adequate and affordable healthcare, the government set up a 7-man committee to draw up concrete plans to under study the sensibility of stating implementing the scheme in phrases across the state.

"Currently a report has been submitted to him and he is already taking steps 10 ensure that the policy sees the light of the day." he stated.

He further informed that the scheme is seen in government circle as proactive approach to address the social policy, adding that it will have direct impact on productivity and performance of the workers.

Culled from The Herald Newspaper