The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Friday commenced the enrolment of corps members into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
It said the insurance cover would last until three weeks after corps members disengagement from service.
The Director-General, NYSC Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim disclosed this in Abuja at the Flag-off of the enrolment of Corps Members into NHIS.
According to him, Corps members were enrolled under the NYSC Group Individual Family Social Health Insurance Programme.
He disclosed that six Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) were selected from each of the six geopolitical zones to drive the process and ensure effective implementation of the NHIS.
He explained that the health initiative was designed as a holistic health insurance scheme, covering the periods of pre-orientation.
“That is, as soon as a prospective corps member picks up Call-up Letter, which is the instrument that qualifies him/her for admittance into National Service, until the end of his/her terminal leave, which is three weeks after disengagement from Service,” he said.
The DG further stated that the health scheme was the culmination of the Presidential directive issued in 2016, which arose as a result of the unfortunate deaths of three corps members deployed to Kano, Zamfara and Bayelsa States orientation camps.
“The issue of a robust and sustainable health care system for corps members has always been of paramount importance to successive management of the scheme.
“It is particularly fulfilling that the enrolment of corps members into the Health Insurance Scheme is in line with the policy thrust of my Administration bordering on the improvement of welfare and security of corps members and staff,” he said.
To ensure a seamless arrangement devoid of encumbrances, he urged corps members to register under Health Care Practitioners in their localities.
“It is, therefore, my expectation that both the HMOs and Health Care Providers will approach this insurance scheme with the highest degree of responsibility and integrity,” he added.
