The Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Mohammed Nasir Sambo, has applauded the effort of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) in the recovery and return of trapped funds of the Scheme.
He described the effort as timely considering that the NHIS was in an aggressive drive for expansion of coverage towards attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the country.
Prof. Sambo made the commendation while handing over a consignment of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), in Abuja, on Thursday.
He, however, vowed his agency’s continued support to the federal government in order to halt the spread of the COVID-19 in the country.
While applauding the effort of the federal government through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 in combating the disease, Prof. Sambo, called for support for institutions and personnel providing essential services and whose nature of work pre-disposes them to high risk of the corona virus infection.
He revealed that the Scheme had recently extended similar gesture to personnel of healthcare providers through the government of some states in the country with high burden of COVID -19.
This, according to him, was intended to protect frontline health workers from possible infection while they provide services to health seekers, and to also stem the reported abandonment of duty posts by some health workers for fear of infection of the corona virus.
Speaking, the National Coordinator of the PTF on COVID -19, Dr Sani Aliyu, lamented that the pandemic has inflicted hardship on social, economic and even security situations in the country.
He reiterated that “the best vaccine against the virus for now is wear a mask, wash your hands, use hand sanitiser and observe social distancing”
Dr. Aliyu commended the management of EFCC for the impressive observance of prevention protocols noticeable on their premises and personnel.
On his part, the acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Umar Abba Mohammed, expressed the agency’s appreciation to the PTF for midwifing the huge supply of PPE from NHIS, adding that it will go a long way in ensuring the protection of the agency’s staff in the line of duty.
He promised to ensure that distribution is made to the 14 zonal formations of the Commission nationwide.
The acting Chairman of EFCC assured to continue to pursue vigorously further fund recovery for the NHIS.
