The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has assured Nigerians of extending the scheme to communities called informal sector in order to save lives by providing affordable health care services for people of the rural and the semi urban areas.

The NHIS Zonal Coordinator, North Central Zone, Alhaji Attahiru Ibrahim, disclosed this during a one-day interactive forum organised for uniformed officers in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

According to him, the new development follows the presidential directive to cover Nigeria by 2015, as the highest number of Nigerians resides in rural areas.

The Coordinator, who spoke on the challenges facing the uniformed officers in view of the exigency of their duties, pledged NHIS support to ensure that the officers receive quality healthcare service in the discharge of their duties.

Presenting his paper titled "Journey to Universal Coverage of Health Insurance", a Technical Unit Officer of NHIS, Mr. Adamu Abdulahi, said a large percentage of Nigerians is concentrated in the informal sector.

In which, according to him, such people often run from pillar to post to raise fund for medical services in time of emergency as it is extremely difficult to save money.

He therefore called on all and sundry to join the match toward universal coverage of health insurance by encouraging individuals, community members, associations among others to form themselves into cohesive group (MHAs) with a view to contributing money on regular basis to enable them access medical care in time of need.

Speaking with Royal Times correspondent after the event, an Immigration Chief Superintendent Officer, Olasiya Oladele, and the Deputy Route Commander Oladele Oni of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), commended the Federal Government for the initiative, saying it has saved so many lives across the federation.