The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced that its health insurance agency surpassed the annual ministerial deliverables enrolment target of 25,000 residents under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Babagana Adam, permanent secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), said the FCTA Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS) achieved the milestone through strategic collaboration with key stakeholders.

He disclosed this during a keynote address on Friday in Abuja, at a medical outreach and market sensitisation organised by FHIS to mark the 2025 Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, celebrated globally on December 12.

Mr Adam explained that the 2025 health insurance enrolment target was exceeded through collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), ensuring beneficiaries had valid national identification numbers (NINs).

According to him, FHIS successfully revalidated and enrolled 69,512 beneficiaries, including more than 33,000 new vulnerable enrollees, surpassing the annual target by more than 8,000 individuals and achieving 64 per cent of the overall target.

He commended the acting director of FHIS, Salamatu Belgore, and her team for their dedication and hailed all stakeholders and health workers for their resilience, calling them the backbone of the FCT health system.

Mr Adam reaffirmed the FCTA’s commitment to strengthening the health system, expanding insurance coverage, upgrading facilities, supporting the workforce, and ensuring essential services remained accessible to every resident.

“Our goal is clear: to build a resilient health system that delivers quality care to everyone, everywhere, every time,” he stressed, linking the effort to the 2025 UHC theme, “Unaffordable health costs? We are sick of it!”

He emphasised that healthcare was a right, not a privilege, and reiterated the administration’s commitment to achieving health for all in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.8.

In her welcome address, Ms Belgore lauded staff for their commitment, saying their efforts enabled the 2025 enrolment target to be surpassed.

Ms Belgore noted the importance of taking health insurance conversations beyond office spaces and directly to the people, ensuring care was accessible regardless of location or income level.

She highlighted a sensitisation walk conducted in local markets earlier in the day, demonstrating FHIS’s commitment to engaging residents and raising awareness of the benefits of health insurance.

The acting director added that FHIS planned to conduct town hall meetings across the six area councils of the FCT to further educate and enrol residents in the scheme.

“Health insurance is not a luxury; it is a shield against financial shock.

“Today’s outreach and enrolment efforts are deliberate steps to build trust, reduce suffering, and save lives while advancing Universal Health Coverage in the FCT,” she said.

(NAN)