Plateau’s health insurance scheme covers 60 journalists.

Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports

The Plateau State Contributory Health Insurance Management Agency has at least 60 journalists registered (PLASCHEMA).

The agency purchased a yearly premium for the beneficiaries in order for them to have access to health care.

Dr. Fabong Jemchang, Director-General of PLASCHEMA, presented the cards to the beneficiaries in Jos during a quarterly media interface titled “Leveraging the Media for Sustainable Universal Health Coverage.”

“The interface is critical because the media is central to achieving universal health coverage.”

“Importantly, in terms of health insurance policy formulation and implementation, the media is at the forefront.” Without the media, it is impossible to achieve universal health coverage.

“This meeting has been called to motivate journalists on how to report health care services using public indices and to call public health into account, as well as to drive the agenda so that it transforms health care centers for adequate services,” he explained.

According to Dr. Jemchang, a survey conducted by the agency revealed that approximately 97% of Plateau citizens have access to medical services through out-of-pocket expenses.

He revealed that of the 96.8 percent of out-of-pocket spending, 78 percent are daily-income earners such as farmers, traders, and artisans, among others.

“As a result, access to health care becomes difficult.” That explains our poor health-seeking behavior.”

He urged political office holders to purchase premiums for people at the lowest possible rate of N12, 000 rather than investing in things that are not beneficial to them. He also stated that “we can eliminate poverty together with the media, magnifying the need for health care while shrinking the capacity to finance it.”

Comrade Paul Jatau, Chairman of the Plateau State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), acknowledged that such media engagement would go a long way toward strengthening journalists’ capacity in health care reporting.