By Perpetua Onuegbu
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration, in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT council, has unveiled a health insurance scheme for journalists in the territory.
The Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat, FCT Administration, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, at the official unveiling of the health insurance, said the initiative was part of efforts to expand access to basic healthcare services.
Fasawe described basic healthcare as a necessity rather than a luxury, stressing that access to essential health services should not depend on whether individuals belonged to the formal or informal sector.
According to her, no fewer than 480 journalists have been enrolled in the scheme out of the estimated 800 journalists in the territory.
She said that effective primary healthcare would reduce the burden of complicated medical conditions if citizens monitored their health status and adhered to prescribed medications.
The FCT mandate secretary said that individuals enrolled under the FCT health insurance scheme would receive medications for conditions such as hypertension and diabetes free of charge.
Fasawe said the initiative aligned with the commitment of the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike to strengthen healthcare delivery and promote universal health coverage in the territory.
She added that the administration had also declared zero tolerance for maternal mortality in the FCT.
“There is no reason you should carry a package for nine months, and at the point of delivery of that package, either you or the package is dented in any way.
“Basic health care should not be something that would give us headache. If we get the basic health care right, we would never have to worry about complicated health care,” she said.
The mandate secretary said the programme was also designed to appreciate the role of journalists as first responders who disseminate government policies and information to the public.
She said the administration planned to extend coverage to all journalists in the territory within the next few weeks.
Fasawe urged political leaders, organisations and individuals to support the initiative by sponsoring health insurance coverage for journalists and other citizens.
Also speaking, the National President of NUJ, Alhassan Yahya, urged journalists to champion advocacy for health insurance to expand access to healthcare across the country.
Yahya commended the council for initiating the programme, describing it as a significant step toward improving the welfare of journalists.
“We do not take this initiative for granted. It is a commendable step that will enable journalists to access quality healthcare services,” he said.
Yahya explained that the health insurance scheme operated under three categories—formal, informal and equity, each designed to cater for different segments of society.
According to him, the formal category covers civil servants at the local, state and federal levels, while the informal category caters for individuals working in the private sector or those who are self-employed.
He added that the equity category was designed for vulnerable groups who might not have the means to access healthcare services.
The NUJ president said that the scheme would enable beneficiaries to access healthcare services from primary to tertiary levels.
He stressed that expanding health insurance coverage would improve access to quality healthcare and enhance the wellbeing of Nigerians.
The Chairperson of the NUJ FCT Council, Ms Grace Ike, described the programme as a historic step toward safeguarding the wellbeing of journalists.
Ike said the initiative underscored the need to protect media professionals who played critical roles in informing society and shaping national discourse.
According to her, journalists are often at the forefront of national conversations and public advocacy, yet their welfare, particularly health needs, are frequently overlooked.
She said the scheme was designed to address that gap by providing journalists with access to quality healthcare and encourage them to prioritise their wellbeing.
The NUJ chairperson further thanked the Permanent Secretary of the FCT secretariat, Dr Babagana Adam, for pledging to sponsor an additional 50 journalists in memory of his late brother, Mohammed Alkali.
Ike called on government institutions, private organisations and philanthropists to support and expand the initiative to enable more journalists benefit in the future.
She also urged journalists selected for the first batch of enrolment to take full advantage of the opportunity to safeguard their health while continuing to serve society.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was attended by officials of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat as well as stakeholders in the health and media sectors. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi
