Yobe UNICEF free healthcare initiative enrolls 2,550 vulnerable individuals for no-cost medical access as part of the drive for universal health coverage

Yobe UNICEF free healthcare initiative has kicked off with the enrolment of 2,550 poor and vulnerable individuals across the state, signaling a major step toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

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The initiative, launched in partnership between the Yobe State Government and UNICEF, was confirmed by Dr. Babagana Tijjani, Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, during a supervision exercise in Damaturu on Thursday.

“150 individuals have been carefully selected from each of Yobe’s 17 local government areas. These are the most vulnerable members of society who would now access healthcare services completely free,” Tijjani stated.

The programme aligns with Governor Mai Mala Buni’s health policy, which emphasizes accessibility, equity, and inclusion in healthcare delivery for all residents of the state.

Under the scheme, beneficiaries will access comprehensive healthcare services through primary health centres statewide.

The goal is not just to treat illness but to prevent it through early access and intervention—a vital move in a region where health disparities remain a concern.

This initiative forms part of a broader health insurance scheme that currently serves over 277,000 enrollees across Yobe State, including individuals in the formal and informal sectors, as well as those covered under the equity fund and Basic Healthcare Provision Fund—the latter co-financed by both the Yobe State Government and the Federal Government.

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Dr. Tijjani reaffirmed that the Yobe UNICEF Free Healthcare Initiative represents a powerful commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind in the state’s healthcare transformation.