Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has announced plans to establish three primary healthcare centers in each of the 21 Local Government Areas in the state.
This initiative aims to enhance healthcare delivery in rural areas. Governor Ododo made the announcement during the flag-off and commencement of the free health insurance scheme under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund in Kogi State.
He expressed delight at the success achieved in enrolling civil servants in the formal sector healthcare plan and in enrolling vulnerable and indigent populations under the basic healthcare provision fund in the state.
Ismaila Isa, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, mentioned that the event marked the launch of access to healthcare for 42,000 enrollees in the formal sector healthcare plan, 41,587 enrollees in the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, and the launch of the 10-year Strategic Plan of the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency.
Governor Ododo took the opportunity to praise President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his consistent support for the government and people of Kogi State. He highlighted President Tinubu’s provision of basic healthcare funds under the Renewed Hope Agenda as instrumental in ensuring the well-being of the people.
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The Governor expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, emphasizing the President’s trust and confidence in the younger generation. He credited this trust for providing a stable platform for the Kogi State government to deliver effective governance to its people.
Governor Ododo also acknowledged the significant contributions of his predecessor, former Governor Yahaha Bello, in establishing the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency. He applauded Bello’s bold initiative, recognizing it as the cornerstone for improving access to healthcare for a broad segment of the state’s population.
Governor Ododo expressed gratitude to Yahaya Bello, the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, for his courageous decision to establish the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency despite challenges. He acknowledged the significant investment made in the health sector during Bello’s tenure, which laid a strong foundation for improving the state’s healthcare system.
The Governor assured the people of Kogi State that his administration would build upon the progress made in the health sector. He pledged to expand access to healthcare and enhance the functionality of Primary Health Care Centers across the state to ensure better service delivery and a healthier future for the citizens of Kogi State.
In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adams AbdulAzeez Adeiza, emphasized that the launch of the access to care program in Kogi State signifies the end of out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare. This initiative aims to make healthcare more accessible to all residents of the state.
During his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of the Kogi State Health Insurance, Dr. Aledare Adekunle, highlighted the significant progress made in the journey towards Universal Health Coverage, UHC, Currently, about 122,046 individuals have already enrolled in the access to care program.
Dr. Adekunle assured that the agency would remain committed to implementing its key strategies outlined in the 10-Year Strategic Plan. The goal is to achieve 60% coverage of the state’s population within the next decade, ensuring that more people have access to quality healthcare services.
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