BY: ABDULKADIR M LAWAN, MAY 11, 2026/ 07:57PM
About 5,000 environmental vanguards working with the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA) and their families are set to benefit from free healthcare services under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
The enrolment, conducted under the vulnerable group scheme of the Borno State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (BOSCHMA), was launched on Monday at the BOSEPA office in Maiduguri.
According to BOSCHMA, about 5,000 environmental workers were going to be enrolled, with coverage extended to spouses, children, and elderly dependents.
The beneficiaries, mostly women and the elderly, are considered among the most vulnerable in the state.
The programme provides free access to primary healthcare services, including referrals to secondary facilities where necessary, with full coverage of medical bills.
Beneficiaries will be registered into primary health centres closest to their residences and issued identification cards within one week to reduce transportation difficulties and delays in accessing care.
According to Executive Secretary of BOSCHMA, Dr. Saleh Abba Kaza, the intervention targets environmental workers who are regularly exposed to health risks such as heat stress, dehydration, and waste-related diseases.
'This will bring succour to the workers, as their healthcare spending can now be redirected to other needs instead of paying medical bills,' Dr. Kaza said.
He described the programme as a step forward in expanding healthcare access to rural and vulnerable populations.
The ES added that the enrolment exercise also includes free National Identification Number (NIN) registration for children and elderly persons who do not yet have the document, which is required for enrollment under the scheme.
He commended the environmental vanguards for their dedication to keeping the state clean despite difficult working conditions, noting that their inclusion in the scheme was necessary given the hazardous nature of their work.
The healthcare support is funded by the Federal Government and the Borno State Government through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, which is designed to provide medical assistance to vulnerable groups.
Speaking at the event, General Manager of BOSEPA, Abubakar Suleiman, commended Governor Babagana Umara Zulum for supporting the programme and thanked BOSCHMA for implementing the initiative for environmental workers.
The BHCPF aims to improve access to quality healthcare for vulnerable populations across Nigeria by funding basic health services at the primary care level.
Zara Bunu, a physically challenged woman and 10-year beneficiary of BOSEPA, shared her experience at the enrolment exercise.
Despite her condition, she worked sweeping the road along the Custom Area in Maiduguri.
Because she could not walk on her own, her daughter often helped by clearing the dust she gathered.
A mother of six, Zara thanked BOSCHMA for bringing the free healthcare scheme to BOSEPA workers.
She said she previously spent a large portion of her earnings on medications and other medical bills, and the intervention would now ease that burden on her family.