The National Health Insurance Fund in the Sudan’s Blue Nile State has unveiled a health insurance cover that would benefit returnees from the neighboring Ethiopia and South Sudan.

The project, launched in the locality of Bau, is being implemented in partnership with the Voluntary Return Commission and the Humanitarian Aid Commission.

The launch was attended by residents, administrators, locality security committee members, the Director of Health Insurance in the Blue Nile State, and Governor Jaafar Jacklo Ladeek.

Governor Jacklo commended the active role of health insurance in providing services to beneficiaries.

“Bau locality is witnessing significant voluntary returns with the number of households reaching 100,000,” he said.

The governor urged organizations working on repatriation and helping IDPs to intervene and help returnees.

Meanwhile, Ammuna Gabir, a Bau resident, highlighted the hardships faced by residents, including lack of medical care, especially during the rainy season.

“The high costs of accessing healthcare outside the locality pose a significant challenge as treatment in Al-Damazin city requires payment so this health insurance card will alleviate the burden,” she stated.

Meanwhile, Qasim Adam, a member of the Returnees Integration Team, explained that the campaign targets all returnee groups from South Sudan, including those who have lost identification documents.

“The registration is progressing well,” he said.

In the same vein, Dr. Siddig Abubakar, the Director of the National Health Insurance Fund, said teams are working to register returnees.

“Population coverage teams are continuously working to cover returnees to the state and gradually to other states,” he stated. “Cooperation with partners continues to localize and receive medical services in the region. The team will head to Suda, Jamu localities, and all areas with returnees.”

He praised the role of local leaders, elders, and residents of the Bau locality in facilitating the work of coverage teams.