The Mandate Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, has called on philanthropists, political office holders, religious leaders and business leaders to sponsor health insurance coverage for journalists in the nation’s capital.
Fasawe made the appeal in Abuja during the launch of a health insurance initiative for members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, aimed at improving access to healthcare for media professionals.
The scheme, spearheaded by the Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, has so far enrolled more than 150 journalists under the FCT Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS), with additional contributions pushing the number of beneficiaries to about 200.
Speaking at the event, Fasawe stressed that access to basic healthcare should not be considered a privilege but a necessity, urging well-meaning Nigerians to support journalists by sponsoring their health insurance coverage.
“My purpose of coming here today is to ask political office holders, religious leaders and individuals who want their voices to be heard to buy health insurance for a journalist,” she said.
“Buy health insurance for a member of the press today and you will be heard loud and clear, because you are supporting those who tell your stories to the public.”
Fasawe also announced an additional 50 health insurance slots for journalists, noting that the intervention has already increased coverage among journalists in the FCT to about 65 per cent of NUJ members in the territory.
She explained that the initiative aligns with the commitment of the FCT Administration under the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to expand access to healthcare and strengthen the health system.
Highlighting ongoing health sector reforms in the territory, the Mandate Secretary said the administration has adopted a zero-tolerance approach to maternal mortality.
“In the FCT, our minister has declared absolutely zero tolerance for maternal mortality. There is no reason a woman should labour in vain, and there is no reason that at the point of delivery either the mother or the child should suffer harm,” she said.
According to her, pregnant women, especially vulnerable groups in the FCT, can now access free antenatal care and delivery services, including caesarean sections, at primary healthcare centres across the territory.
Earlier in her remarks, NUJ FCT Council Chairman, Grace Ike, described the launch of the health insurance initiative as a historic milestone for the union and a significant step towards safeguarding the welfare of journalists in the territory.
She commended the Mandate Secretary for providing 150 free health insurance slots for NUJ members and acknowledged the support of the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Information, Hon. Akin Rotimi Jr., who helped facilitate the programme.
Ike also appreciated the Permanent Secretary of the Secretariat, Dr. Babagana Adam, who pledged to sponsor an additional 50 journalists in memory of his late brother, Mohammed Alkali.
According to her, the combined contributions have enabled about 200 journalists to benefit from the health insurance scheme, significantly easing the burden of healthcare costs and encouraging journalists to prioritise their health.
The National President of the NUJ, Comrade Alhassan Yahya, also praised the initiative, noting that less than one per cent of Nigerian journalists currently have any form of health insurance.
He described the scheme as a critical intervention that would help reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses and improve healthcare access for media professionals.
The event, which took place during the NUJ FCT Congress, attracted over 450 members and several stakeholders, including the Director of the FCT Health Insurance Scheme, Dr. Salamatu Belgore.
Stakeholders say the initiative represents a major step towards improving journalists’ welfare and advancing universal health coverage in the Federal Capital Territory.