By Christiana Ekpa
The House of Representatives on Wednesday expressed overwhelming support for the bill seeking to provide free healthcare services to Nigerian children across the country.
The Green Chamber gave the support while the debating on the bill sponsored by Hon. Bello Kaoje, who explained that the services shall be rendered by the Government Hospitals in Nigeria.
According to him, the free healthcare services shall include: diagnoses, treatment, prevention of illness and other physical and mental impairment in children in Nigeria.
He added that the free healthcare services shall cover referral cases of children from other states, Local Government hospitals or any other private hospital in Nigeria.
In his lead debate, Hon Kaoje observed that “Children’s health needs are significantly different from those of adults.
“By nature, children grow and develop at rapid rates, placing them at special risk of being affected by illness and injury.
“If health problems are not identified and treated, they can affect a child’s cognitive, physical, behavioural, and emotional development.
“With the Federal Government health care Initiative, save One Million Lives (SOML), it’s very important to make free medical services for children in Nigeria.”
According to him, the bill on Free Health Care Services Delivery to Children in Nigeria, when passed into law will ensure that all health care services delivered to children in Nigeria shall be free. It will give the following unique and immediate benefits.”
In the bid to ensure effective implementation and monitoring of the bill, he disclosed that “Federal Ministry of Health shall make definite procedures, guidelines as well as monitor and implement the provisions of this Act, coordinate-free healthcare services delivery to the children in Nigeria and ensure transparency and accountability in the free health care services delivery to the children in Nigeria.”
Ruling on the bill, the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila referred the bill to the Committee on Healthcare Services for further legislative action.
