The Niger State Contributory Health Agency- NiCare hosted a delegation from the Civil Society on Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition on an advocacy visit to explore collaboration towards expanding health insurance coverage and improving access to healthcare for residents of Niger State. Representing the Executive Secretary, the Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, Pharm. Abdul Musa, reaffirmed NiCare’s openness to partnerships with civil society organisations and other stakeholders. The State Coordinator of the coalition, Kalejaiye Olasunkami, expressed the group’s readiness to support NiCare’s enrolment efforts, particularly among vulnerable and informal-sector populations, through strengthened community-level structures. The delegation commended NiCare’s efforts but raised concerns about low patronage at some healthcare facilities and the equitable distribution of the additional 65,000 vulnerable persons to be enrolled across the 25 Local Government Areas. Responding, the Director of Operations, Pharm. Attahiru Shehu Malagi, explained that enrolment allocations are guided by the vulnerability index to ensure fairness, while the concentration of BHCPF enrollees at primary healthcare centres is in line with the programme’s operational guidelines. NiCare’s Head of Informal Sector, Haj. Habiba Lami Umar, highlighted challenges in identifying vulnerable persons, including NIN requirements, and stressed the need for increased public sensitisation. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to expanding health insurance coverage across Niger State, with NiCare to provide LGA enrolment updates and join the CSO coordination meeting in two weeks time to agree on concrete joint actions. The collaboration aims to strengthen community advocacy, increase enrollment, and improve access to affordable, quality healthcare.
