Abuja: The Managing Director of Defence Health Maintenance Limited (DHML), retired Rear Adm. Azeez Afolayan, has called for the regular release of funds to the agency to enhance healthcare delivery to military veterans. Afolayan made the appeal during an interactive session with representatives of military veterans’ groups in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Afolayan explained that funds allocated for veterans’ healthcare are released by the Federal Government through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) before reaching DHML for distribution to the services. He emphasized that the irregular disbursement of these funds has been affecting the agency’s ability to meet its obligations to retired personnel. “We are not asking for anything extraordinary. All we want is the regular disbursement of funds as approved by the government. That consistency is what will enable us to effectively discharge our duties to veterans,” he stated. Afolayan added that DHML has exhausted its stop-gap measures, making it urgent for NHIA to ensure timely release of funds to avoid disruption in service delivery.
Meanwhile, veterans who participated in the forum shared their experiences with the scheme, acknowledging government efforts while also calling for improvements. Mr. Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, Secretary of the Ministry of Defence’s Standing Committee on Military Veterans’ Welfare, commended the government’s efforts in sustaining healthcare for retired personnel and their registered dependents. He noted that while some ailments are not yet covered by the scheme, the initiative is appreciated as it ensures families are cared for after retirement.
Medical personnel also addressed the concerns of veterans who reported insufficient attention in hospitals. Dr. Oluwayemsi Aligwe, a Medical Doctor at DHML, mentioned that the organization has an open-door policy for complaints and regularly intervenes to resolve issues with healthcare providers. “Whenever personnel encounter such cases, they can reach out to us directly. We take it up with the facility managers and the cases are always addressed,” she said, adding that prevention is emphasized alongside educating veterans on accessing care.
Retired Lt.-Col. Susan Dibal, Head of Veteran Health Services, explained that the interactive session aimed to raise awareness among veterans nationwide through representation. Each group across the 36 states nominated two representatives to attend the meeting, with the expectation that participants would relay the information to their colleagues. “Many veterans in remote areas are not fully informed about the system, and this is one way of bridging that gap,” Dibal noted. She encouraged retired personnel to stay positive and active despite challenges, reminding them of their continued strength and relevance.