#National News

NHIS, CRVS to begin on January 31

Jan 11, 2022, 1:52 PM | Article By: Janke Ceesay

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) membership registration and Civil Registration and Vital Statistic (CRVS) will kick-off in The Gambia from January 31, 2022.

Modou Njie, director of Health Promotion and Education at the Ministry of Health made this disclosure at a recent five-day Message Development Workshop on Electronic Birth Registration and National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) which came to an end on Monday  in Mansakonko in LRR.

The forum, which attracted 30 stakeholders, is aimed at developing communication materials that will be used to sensitise the public on enrollment into the National Health Insurance Scheme, designed by government.

Njie however, revealed that the initiative is courtesy of Government of The Gambia and its development partners.

Also speaking at the opening ceremony, Karamba Keita, deputy permanent secretary Technical at the Ministry of Health, underscored the importance of the forum, saying the goal is to achieve universal coverage of electronic birth registration and health insurance enrolment for all by December 31, 2022.

Gibril Badjie, director of Planning at the Ministry of Health indicated that the NHIS/CRVS programmes when implemented will lead to a major transformation process of government health policies and programs that would guarantee universal access to health care for all citizens and residents in The Gambia.

The governor Lower River Region (LRR), Rohey John Manjang lauded the Ministry of Health and stakeholders for the initiative further appealing for effective public engagement and awareness raising for the successful implementation of the program.

Bolong Jobarteh, regional health director for LRR, said the initiative would enhance public confidence and trust in the health system for effective and efficient health service delivery.