The Niger State Government has commenced the enrolment of 66,000 vulnerable residents into the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) in a fresh effort to expand free healthcare coverage and reduce the financial burden of medical treatment on poor households.

The exercise, which will be implemented across the state’s 25 local government areas, was flagged off in Minna alongside the unveiling of the First Lady, Hajiya Fatima Mohammed Bago, as the NiCare Health Insurance Ambassador and the commencement of activities marking the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week.

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Secondary and Tertiary Healthcare, Dr. Murtala Mohammed Bagana, said more than 121,000 residents had already benefited from the BHCPF, adding that the additional enrolment would further widen access to essential healthcare services for vulnerable persons.

He said the programme is designed to remove financial barriers to healthcare and accelerate the state’s drive towards universal health coverage.

Bagana called on implementing agencies and other stakeholders to ensure that every eligible beneficiary across the state is identified and enrolled.

Accepting her appointment as NiCare Health Insurance Ambassador, the First Lady pledged to champion wider health insurance coverage, particularly for women, children, the elderly, persons living with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.

She stressed that access to healthcare should not be determined by a person’s financial status.

“No family should be pushed into poverty because they need healthcare, and the inability to pay should never become a barrier to receiving essential medical services,” Mrs Bago stated.

The First Lady also used the occasion to advocate exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of a child’s life as activities marking the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week commenced in the state.

She urged fathers, employers, healthcare workers, traditional rulers, religious leaders and community groups to support breastfeeding mothers while encouraging residents to enrol in the state’s health insurance scheme.