By Rofiat Abdullahi
The Niger State Contributory Health Agency (NiCare) has introduced a new reward-and-sanction system to strengthen accountability and improve service delivery across healthcare facilities in the state.
NiCare Executive Secretary, Dr. Sulayman Abu-Bakr, disclosed this while presenting the agency’s second-quarter Quality Assurance (QA) and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) report in Minna.
According to him, the assessment covered 130 health facilities, representing 25 per cent of facilities across the 25 local councils, and recorded a 95 per cent approval rating.
“The few facilities that failed the assessment pose significant risks to patient safety and will be addressed with urgency,” Abu-Bakr stated.
He said the newly endorsed operational guidelines, approved by Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, will ensure transparency and fairness, rewarding outstanding facilities while sanctioning underperformers.
“This framework is designed to ensure enrollees get full value for their contributions and that patients’ rights, especially access to essential medications, are fully protected,” he added.
The meeting, held at NAFTEC Hotel, Minna, brought together key stakeholders, including Directors of Local Government Primary Health Care, Ward Development Committee Chairmen, and Health Educators from all Zone ‘B’ councils.
