By Edith Nwovu
Jiwa Community, located in the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), does not have a standard hospital where its dwellers could have access to during health challenges.
Report states that the people of Jiwa are predominantly farmers and traders and none of the women are aware of health insurance and its associated advantages.
It is to this end that El-Tabib Pharmaceuticals Limited in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency-NPHCDA held a medical outreach in Jiwa to sensitise the people on the importance of prioritising their health.
A medical practitioner, Dr. Emeka Udezue, who represented the pharmaceutical company, advocated inclusion of rural dwellers in the National Health Insurance Scheme-NHIS to enable them to have access to quality healthcare.
“If the health insurance scheme is able to come down to their level, either through the National Insurance Scheme or FCT Insurance Scheme, then perhaps, access to care and availability of drugs will be easier for them, so that they will know the disease, they will know how to manage it and they will know how to check their lifestyle to reduce the risk of it and therefore live happier lives”.
Dr. Udezue also called on all tiers of government to encourage citizens especially those at the grassroots, to register at designated enrollment centers to ensure continuity in healthcare access without interruptions.
The State Coordinator of NPHCDA, North Central Zone, Mr. Sylvester Udeh, said that such outreaches were in line with the agenda of the federal government to enhance access to quality healthcare for underserved populations.
“This outreach was prompted by the effort of the current executive director of NPHCDA, Dr. Muyi Aina that efficient quality primary healthcare service delivery at the grassroots should be carried along to ensure health for all.”
The Madaki of Jiwa, Mallam Tanko Nuhu, while thanking the organisers of the outreach, also urged the government to build a hospital for the Community.
“What we want the government to do for us is to build a hospital for my people. We only have one Health Center and it is not enough for us… Mallam Tanko lamented.”
Two other rural communities in the FCT, Kaida Tsoho in Gwagwalada Area Council and Jiwa under AMAC benefited from the medical outreach.