By Hassan Zaggi
The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has donated a consignment of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
While handing over the consignment to the EFCC, in Abuja, on Thursday, the Executive Secretary of the NHIS, Prof Mohammed Nasir Sambo, vowed his agency’s continued support to the federal government in order to halt the spread of the COVID-19 in the country.
While applauding the effort of the federal government through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 in combating the disease, Prof. Sambo, however, called for support for institutions and personnel providing essential services and whose nature of work pre-disposes them to high risk of the corona virus infection.
He revealed that the Scheme had recently extended similar gesture to personnel of healthcare providers through the government of some states in the country with high burden of COVID -19.
This, according to him, was intended to protect frontline health workers from possible infection while they provide services to health seekers, and to also stem the reported abandonment of duty posts by some health workers for fear of infection of the corona virus.
The NHIS boss, however, applauded the EFCC for its continued assistance in the recovery and subsequent return of trapped funds of the Scheme, which according to him, was timely, as the Scheme is currently on an aggressive drive for expansion of coverage towards attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the country.
On his part, the National Coordinator of the PTF on COVID -19, Dr Sani Aliyu, lamented that the pandemic has inflicted hardship on social, economic and even security situations in the country.
He reiterated that “the best vaccine against the virus for now is wear a mask, wash your hands, use hand sanitiser and observe social distancing”
Dr. Aliyu commended the management of EFCC for the impressive observance of prevention protocols noticeable on their premises and personnel.
Speaking, the acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Umar Abba Mohammed, expressed the agency’s appreciation to the PTF for midwifing the huge supply of PPE from NHIS, adding that it will go a long way in ensuring the protection of the agency’s staff in the line of duty.
He promised to ensure that distribution is made to the 14 zonal formations of the Commission nationwide.
A statement by the NHIS Spokesman, Ayo Osinlu, quoted the acting Chairman of EFCC as giving assurance to continue to pursue vigorously further fund recovery for the NHIS.
