Saraki calls on the government, private sector to ensure all Nigerians have access to health insurance

Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the former Senate President, enrolled 1000 Kwarans in the Kwara State Health Insurance Scheme through his Abubakar Bukola Saraki Foundation (ABS Foundation) in the 16 local government areas of Kwara.

Dr. Saraki, the program’s launcher, called for public and private sector participation to achieve 100 percent universal healthcare coverage across the country, speaking at the program’s launch, which has beneficiaries from 193 wards in Kwara.

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“Four days ago, at a Chatham House Health Summit in Abuja, I challenged Nigerians to scrutinize the healthcare manifestos and promises of all candidates seeking national and state leadership before the next general election.”

Nigeria’s health-care system is in desperate need of reform today. Our average lifespan is 55 years. The maternal mortality rate in our country is 917 deaths per 100,000 live births. For children under the age of five, our child mortality rate is 201 per 1000 live births. Our annual mortality rate from malaria is 300,000, the highest in the world. While we have confirmed nearly 3,000 deaths from COVID-19, the true number is likely to be much higher.

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“This is why, on my 59th birthday, I am proud that, once again, we are leading from the front on healthcare — and backing up our ‘talk’ with deliberate action,” Saraki said.