Nearly four in 10 (37%) of young Nigerians polled in a recent survey said that they had never heard of health insurance before, revealing an alarming gap in healthcare awareness in this demographic group.
The survey report was launched on 6 March during a dialogue session organised by Dean Initiative as part of its Youth Health Assets Project and aimed to assess health awareness and access among young people in the Federal Capital Territory.
The survey, which attracted 4,188 respondents, was funded by the Government of Ireland’s International Development Programme. The event brought together policymakers, health experts, and stakeholders to discuss sustainable youth health financing solutions.
The executive director of Dean Initiative Semiye Michael urged stakeholders to explore sustainable funding mechanisms and policy measures to ensure that healthcare is accessible to all young people, regardless of their economic status.
Dean Initiative recommended ways to address gaps in healthcare access for unemployed and vulnerable youth groups. The proposed initiatives include:
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reducing the financial burden of healthcare through a structured policy framework that leverages existing systems such as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF)
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developing a healthcare finance policy tailored to unemployed and vulnerable youths, allowing them to access NHIS and BHCPF with subsidised or no-cost premiums
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strengthening public awareness campaigns through social media and community-based initiatives to educate young people on health insurance and preventive care
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reforming service delivery within public healthcare facilities by training healthcare providers in youth-friendly approaches, with incentives for medical personnel and feedback mechanisms for improved service quality.
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conducting a comprehensive gender and vulnerability assessment to understand the specific challenges young men and women face.
Dean Initiative is a Nigerian non-governmental organisation focused on education, governance, democracy, and climate resilience.