Customs collaborates agency to sensitise officers on utilization of health insurance scheme

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigeria Customs Service has flagged-off a sensitisation programme in collaboration with Songhai Health Trust Ltd to sensitise officers on the effective and efficient benefits of accessing the National Health Insurance Scheme.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, ably represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in Charge of Human Resource Development, Greg Itotoh, while flagging off the sensitisation programme at the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters in Abuja declared that the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is a means of offering officers high-quality healthcare.

The CGC, while speaking, outlined that the sensitisation is to enlighten officers on how best to derive maximum benefits from the services provided by the Songhai Health Trust.

“This is a way of providing quality health care services to officers that are affordable and stress-free. It is an insurance program that NCS makes mandatory contributions.

“This is the reason why we want every officer to key into it and make best use of the incentives provided by the government because whether we make use of it or not, Nigeria Customs Service pays, and that is why we don’t want to be wasting that money” he stated.

He further stated that the team of medical units of the NCS would go around different zones, commands and other customs formations to sensitise officers on the scheme’s benefits.

Meanwhile, the Comptroller of Customs (Pharmacy), Abdulkadir Mohammed, who is also the Desk Officer NHIA, said it is a program introduced by the government for the health care of citizens, and it is designed to pull resources for appropriate health care delivery.

Furthermore, Deputy Manager Operations of the Songhai Health Trust, Dr Rotimi Anlemi, while speaking, outlined how the scheme operates, educating officers on the benefits of the scheme.