By Sunday John
Lafia, Dec. 16, 2025 (NAN) In a significant stride towards equitable healthcare, the Nasarawa State Health Insurance Agency (NASHIA) has successfully enrolled over 308,000 residents into its state-sponsored health insurance scheme. This milestone, announced during a town hall meeting commemorating Universal Health Coverage Day, represents a profound transformation from the scheme’s inception in 2019 with zero enrollees.
Dr. Yahaya Ubam, Executive Secretary of NASHIA, framed the achievement not just as a numerical target met, but as a foundational step in building a resilient healthcare system. “Our journey from zero to over 308,000 enrollees in six years is a testament to the collective will to make healthcare a right, not a privilege,” Ubam stated. The town hall meeting served a dual purpose: to review the agency’s progress and to critically engage with enrollees and accredited healthcare providers to identify and address systemic challenges.
The 308,000 beneficiaries are enrolled across a deliberately segmented structure designed to capture the state’s diverse socioeconomic landscape:
- Public Sector: Formal government employees.
- Informal Sector: A critical inclusion targeting farmers, artisans, traders, and others without formal employment, who are often most vulnerable to health-related financial shocks.
- Vulnerable Groups: Indigent citizens identified through community mechanisms.
- Students: Ensuring the younger generation has access to care.
This multi-pronged approach is central to the philosophy of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), which aims to leave no one behind.
Operational Scale and Digital Transformation
The scheme’s impact is operationalized through a network of 260 accredited healthcare facilities spread across all 13 Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State. “Many enrollees have already accessed essential medical services, from routine consultations to more complex treatments, without the debilitating burden of out-of-pocket payments,” Dr. Ubam explained.
A key driver of this expansion has been the full digitalization of NASHIA’s operations. This shift to digital platforms enhances efficiency, reduces fraud, and ensures enrollees can verify their status and access services seamlessly. For a largely informal economy, such digital integration is crucial for transparency and trust.
Confronting Challenges and Building Confidence
Ubam openly acknowledged ongoing challenges, which are common in scaling such schemes—including potential delays in provider reimbursement, ensuring consistent quality of care across all facilities, and reaching the most remote populations. The town hall’s question-and-answer session, involving union officials and healthcare facility owners, was a direct effort to troubleshoot these issues.
He urged healthcare providers to uphold the highest standards of professionalism. “The sustainability of this scheme hinges on public confidence. Every positive interaction between a beneficiary and a provider strengthens the entire ecosystem,” he emphasized.
A Model of Collaborative Funding and Governance
The report highlights a powerful model of collaborative funding. Beyond government support, Dr. Ubam commended community members who have personally adopted and paid for the enrolment of indigent neighbors. This community solidarity model is a vital supplement to state resources and fosters local ownership of the health scheme.
Dr. Gaza Gwamna, the State Commissioner for Health, represented by Permanent Secretary Dr. Damina John, reaffirmed the government’s commitment. “Providing accessible, quality healthcare remains a top priority. We will continue to support NASHIA not just as a policy, but as a moral imperative for our administration,” he stated.
The Larger Context: A Blueprint for Nigeria?
Nasarawa’s progress offers a tangible case study for other Nigerian states grappling with healthcare financing. Reaching 308,000 enrollees—a significant portion of the state’s population—demonstrates that phased, determined implementation of health insurance can work. The focus on the informal sector is particularly instructive, as this group constitutes the majority of Nigeria’s workforce yet is typically excluded from formal social safety nets.
The journey ahead involves consolidating these gains, ensuring financial sustainability, and relentlessly improving service quality. As Dr. Ubam assured, the agency’s work continues in line with the ultimate objective of Universal Health Coverage: a system where every resident of Nasarawa can access the care they need, when they need it, without financial hardship. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
SDJ/IU
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Edited by Isaac Ukpoju
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