All is set for the Dr Kayode Fayemi-led administration in Ekiti State to flag off its Health Insurance Scheme that will provide residents of the state with affordable and qualitative health care services.
The State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. (Mrs.) Mojisola Yaya-Kolade stated this at the opening ceremony of a day Stakeholders Orientation Workshop on Health Insurance Scheme and Basic Health Care Provision Fund in Ado-Ekiti.
Dr. Yaya-Kolade disclosed that the Ekiti State Health Insurance Scheme was initiated by Governor Kayode Fayemi during his first tenure in office and was eventually passed into law in 2016.
“This scheme is part of the present administration’s efforts to institute a solid, dynamic and sustained health financing system that guarantees unhindered health care funding with a view to achieving universal health care coverage with little or no financial burden on both the government and the people of the state”. She noted.
The Commissioner who was represented at the workshop by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr .Folakemi Olomojobi stressed that the Scheme has come to stay in Ekiti.
Earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Hospital Management Board, Dr Williams Afolabi who lauded the Scheme advised that all Ekiti residents should embrace the programme as it guarantees affordable and qualitative health care services as and when needed.
In her own remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Primary Health Car Development Agency, Pharmacist Olabisi Arogundade urged all Ekiti residents to enroll in the Scheme to avoid health catastrophe associated with emergency.
“We have to be our brothers’ keepers by disseminating information as well as mobilizing them for enrollment as soon as the programme commences”. She said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the General Manager of the Ekiti State Health Insurance Scheme, Dr. Joshua Ileke stated that the objective of the Workshop was to sensitize relevant stakeholders on the activities of the Scheme and the Basic Health Provision Fund.
“The purpose of the workshop was to inform, train and sensitize relevant stakeholders in order to galvanize support, enlist their interest so that they can sensitize and mobilize their wards, families, colleagues and their communities at large for the scheme when it eventually takes off”. The General ManagerS said.
The resource persons at the Workshop, the Zonal Coordinator of National Health Insurance Scheme, South West, Ibadan Office, Pharm. Chinyere Nduaka and NHIS State Coordinator, Oyo state ,Mr. Boore Emmanuel noted that the Scheme has been making efforts at ensuring universal health coverage where all citizens have access to good and affordable health care services.
Pharm. Chinyere Nduaka who spoke on the topic: ‘Overview of NHIS Operations and State Health Insurance Scheme’ said that the Scheme covers formal and informal sectors as well as the vulnerable groups with different insurance plans across the country.
Pharm. Nduaka noted that the Scheme was to take care of the rising cost of health care service, adding that an enrollee/principal has additional advantage of adding at least five other beneficiaries.
On his own part, Mr. Boore Emmanuel who spoke on Basic Health Care Provision Fund – Vital Information for Ekiti State’ disclosed that the fund was for pregnant women, children and the indigent, noting that these groups are the most vulnerable to health challenges .
Mr. Boore charged relevant agencies to mobilize for fund and the scheme in order to ensure universal Health care Coverage in Nigeria as the scheme is set to reduce health challenges and untimely death as much as possible.
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
