By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo on Wednesday in Lokoja restated his commitment to establish three primary health centres in each of the 21 Local Government Areas in the state, to improve healthcare delivery in the rural areas.
Ododo disclosed this on Wednesday during the flag off and commencement of the free health insurance scheme under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund in Kogi state.
Governor Ododo expressed delight for the success so far recorded in the enrollment of civil servants in the formal sector healthcare plan and the enrollment of vulnerable and indigent population in the state under the basic healthcare provision fund in the state.
Highlights of the occasion was the launch of the access to healthcare for 32,000 enrollees in the formal sector healthcare plan; 41,500 and 87 enrollees in the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund and launch of the Ten Years Strategic Plan of the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency.
Governor Ododo commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering support for the the government and people of Kogi State through the provision of basic healthcare provision fund to cater for the wellbeing of the people under the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.
According to Governor Ododo,
“Mr. President has shown trust, confidence and believe in the capacity of the younger generation and this has provided a stable platform for the Kogi State government to deliver good governance to the people of the state.
“We cannot thank Mr. President enough for the various interventions in health and especially at the primary healthcare level through the Basic Healthcare Provision Funds (BHCPF) aimed at meeting the healthcare needs of the vulnerable and indigent Nigerians”.
Governor Ododo who commended his predecessor, former Governor Yahaha Bello for the bold initiative to set up the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency, noted that his efforts in establishing the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency against all odds. has become the solid foundation for the development of access to healthcare by a reasonable spectrum of the population of the state.
The huge investment made in the health sector has provided a solid foundation for us to build on to improve our health system and secure a healthier future for the good people of Kogi State”, Governor Ododo said.
In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Health Dr. Adams AbdulAzeez Adeiza stated that the launch of the acces to care programme in the state will mark the end of out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare in Kogi State.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary, Kogi State Health Insurance, Dr. Aledare Adekunle said Kogi State has made a good start in the journey to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) with about 122,046 already enrolled into the access to care programme in the state.
