Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State has flagged-off the launch of access to care for 32,000 enrollees in the Formal Sector Plan, 41,587 enrollees in the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund and launch of 10-year Strategic Plan of Kogi State Health Insurance Agency.
He appreciate the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu towards health and achieving the universal health coverage through the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The governor further expressed his gratitude to the New Direction Administration led by Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, who took the bold and decisive action to establish the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency against all odds after collective failure of successive governments.
He said: “The huge investment made in the health sector has provided a solid foundation for me to build on to improve our health system and secure a healthier future for the good people of Kogi State.
“My administration will consolidate on the developmental strides achieved in the health sector and focus on improving human capital development and revamping of the Primary Health Care Centres across the state for improved service delivery to our people in the rural areas”.
Ododo promised to revamp and provide continuous strategic supports to 63 Primary Health Centres across the 21 Local Government Areas to a standard above the minimum basic standard for a primary health care.
In the same line, the governor pledged commitment to the attainment of the global target of Universal Health Coverage by 2030 “and as a state, we have developed a 10-year Strategic Plan for the attainment of Universal Health Coverage which will be launched today”.
To him, lack of financial access to health care services is a major barrier responsible for poor health seeking behaviour in Kogi State which is a major determinant of worsening health indices in the country.
“The rising cost of health care services in the country due to the high inflation rate is further pushing more people to health poverty and health insurance is the only way to reduce out-of-pocket spending on health amongst our people.
“As a responsive government, we have decided to launch the Formal Sector Health Insurance Plan for the Civil Servants in the State and the Basic Health Care Provision Fund for the vulnerable persons in the state to advance the health of our people to provide health security to our civil servants which will improve productivity and boost economic prosperity in the state.
“Furthermore, there will be a continued political and financial commitment for the attainment of Universal Health Coverage in Kogi State.
“In the last one year, the state government has been releasing five (5) % of the basic salary of all civil servants in the state as employers’ contribution to provide a financial base for the Formal Sector Plan to thrive”.
Ododo commended the organised labour for its unwavering commitment to the welfare of the Civil Servants in the state.
“Civil Servants and their families can now heave a sigh of relief as they now have guaranteed access to quality health care through Kogi State Health Insurance Agency”.
The governor thanked the Federal Government for the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund Programme (BHCPF) which has tremendously impacted the lives of the vulnerable people in the state “to complement the BHCPF Programme, the New Direction Administration designed Bello Care which is our own state equity programme to further expand the coverage of the vulnerable persons in the state”.
He added that his administration would continue the Bello Care Programme “so that we can provide financial risk protection to our people and improve the health outcomes of our dear state”.
“Furthermore, I want to charge the management of Kogi State Health Insurance Agency to continue to double her effort in ensuring the good people of Kogi State have access to quality and affordable healthcare services irrespective of their socio-economic status to enable the state achieve Universal Health Coverage”.
Ododo thanked the Director-General National Health Insurance Authority, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, “for your continuous support to the state through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and to the State Health Insurance Agency”.
