By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State on Wednesday revealed his government’s intension to establish 63 Primary Healthcare Centres with three in each of the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.
The Governor who announced this during the flag-off and commencement of the state Free Health Insurance Scheme under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund said the aim is to improve healthcare delivery in the rural areas.
Ododo expressed delight over the success so far recorded in the enrollment of civil servants in the formal sector healthcare plan as well as the enrollment of vulnerable and indigent population in the state under the basic heathcare provision fund in the state.
He said that the occasion marked the launch of the access to healthcare for 32,000 enrollees in the formal sector healthcare plan; 41,587 enrollees in the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund and launch of the 10-Year Strategic Plan of the State Health Insurance Agency.
Governor Ododo used the occasion to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering support for the the government and people of Kogi State through the basic healthcare provision fund to cater for the wellbeing of the people under his Renewed Hope Agenda.
“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”, he said.
Gov. Ododo commended his predecessor, former Governor Yahaha Bello for the bold and audacious initiative in setting up Kogi State Health Insurance Agency which according to him, has enabled access to healthcare by a wide spectrum of the state population.
“I will also like to appreciate His Excellency, Alh. Yahaya Bello, the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, who took the bold and decisive step to establish the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency against all odds.
“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.
The Governor assured that his administration would continue to consolidate on the strides achieved in the health sector by expanding access to healthcare and
revitalizing the Primary Health Care Centers across the state for improved service delivery to the people of Kogi State.
In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Health Dr Adams AbdulAzeez Adeiza stated that the launch of the access to care programme in the state would 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.
He assured that the agency would continue to implement its key strategies as documented in the 10-Year Strategic Plan to achieve 60 per cent coverage of the state’s population in the next 10 years. (Ends)