Nation
Group Engages CSOs On Health Insurance
A town hall meeting to enlighten people of Bauchi State on the importance of uptake of health insurance or contributory scheme at both national and state levels has been conducted in the state capital.
The meeting was organised by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) in collaboration with a Bauchi-based Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Journalists for Public Health and Development Initiative (J4PD), with support from USAID Palladium.
It targeted local CSO, non-governmental organisations, trade unions and traditional leaders, faith based organisations, community based organisations, artisan associations, persons with disabilities among others.
The Programme Manager, CSJ Mr. Martins Eke, said health contributory scheme has been proven to serve as a pool where huge amount of money can be channeled for effective healthcare service delivery without waiting for government’s budgetary allocation.
Eke stated that the aim of the meeting was to enlighten the public on the need to key into health insurance scheme and do away with out of pocket spending on health matters.
He said he was optimistic that if a certain percentage of people in the state would embrace the health scheme, it would pave the way for the actualisation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Eke, who acknowledged that Bauchi State Government has an established health contributory scheme, lamented the low enrollment in all components of formal, informal and the vulnerable programme, calling for more awareness creation towards changing thenarrative.
The Coordinator of J4PD, Ms. Elizabeth Kar, said as health promoters, members of the organization should took it upon them to join the enlightenment train for the benefit of people in the state.
While appreciating the participants for honouring the invitation, Kar expressed satisfaction over the turn out and hoped that the meeting would change the narrative for the better.
A representative of traditional institution and Dan Iyan Bauchi, Mr. Sulaiman Ahmad Bashir, pledged the institution’s readiness to sensitise more people in the grassroots on the health benefits of the scheme to individuals and families.
He commended the Bauchi State Health Contributory Management Agency (BASHCMA) for its vulnerable programme that is being funded by the Federal Government’s Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt in conjunction with the Embassy of France Nigeria over the weekend joined the globe to campaign against the 2025 gender- based violence (GBV) with the theme: “16 Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Voice”
The event which took place at the event Hall of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt was in collaboration with the Female in Gaming Network, ( FIGN) and partnership with Nexal a body that seeks to promote online safety and responsible digital behaviour.
The Tide reports that the project which was aimed at promoting digital safety and girls inclusion in Gaming, with the initiative tagged ‘Gameover Gender- Base Violence’was part of the global campaign against gender- based Violence.
The activity which experienced a flavour of festivity was full of fun and excitements as participants took part in tournaments on popular digital games such as Mario kart and EAFC 25, with an intent to creating safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
The Director of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs Marina Lacal said that these activities were designed to encourage inclusion of girls, team work and fair play on online gaming spaces, saying that the gaming world reflects these inequalities, where female players are often under represented.
According to her the main objectives of the initiative was to provide a supportive environment for girls and female in gaming network.
“GameOverGBV” is a project created to reshape this landscape by offering an innovative inclusiveness of girls on online digital Gaming community and digital environments that provide opportunities for creativity, learning and connection, but also fight against Gender-Based Violence Digital Gaming,”she said
She however, explained that the Digital Game, sport competitions, was launched to strengthen social and digital skills through games, workshops, and raise awareness among all young participants about respect, equality and digital citizenship.
The Tide News reports that in Port Harcourt, the competition brought together 100 young participants from three major universities: University of Port Harcourt, ( UNIPORT),Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE) and Rivers State University (RSU)as well as students from four selected secondary schools, Oginigba comprehensive Secondary.School, Vine lnternational, Virgo predicanda lnternational, and Excellent Montessori Secondary school.
“This is an approach where girls and boys can learn, play and collaborate in a more respectful and safe space for young women, while ensuring a safe, enjoyable and respectful digital environment. It also expose young women to cyberbullying, exclusion, sexist comments and online hate,” Mrs. Lacal said.
Earlier, a game developer Sophia Nei and her. team had engaged participants in an interactive session with the theme: “Can Video Games Be Safe Spaces For Girls?”
However, Mrs Nei and her team educated the girls on the benefits and violence on online digital gaming and urged them ( participants)to learn to say ‘No’ to Online hate, sexist and cyber bullying, while encouraging them(students) to stand up for themselves by reporting such issues to the appropriate authority.
Highlight of the competition was the awarding of prizes to winners by the Director of Alliance Française, Mrs Marina Lacal.
