In an exclusive interview with Our Reporter on Monday, Dr. Adekunle expressed confidence that Kogi State will meet the global goal of universal health coverage by 2030. He cited the current performance in health coverage, with over 167,000 enrollees already on the health insurance program in the state.
Dr. Adekunle outlined the Agency’s basic health plans, including the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, Bello Care Programme, vital contributors, formal sector, political office holders, and students in tertiary institutions. He emphasized that these measures aim to provide quality and accessible healthcare services to all, regardless of their socio-economic status.
The Executive Secretary highlighted the Agency’s progress over the past four years as rewarding, with plans to enroll 200,000 persons annually over the next ten years. He also mentioned the recent approval by the Governor to enroll pensioners in the health insurance program, with meetings underway with the State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners to implement the initiative.
Dr. Adekunle praised the immediate past administration for initiating the health insurance scheme and providing a waiver and free three months for the program.
Dr Aledare also expressed gratitude to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his attention to the health sector, particularly as demonstrated in the smooth execution of the health insurance programme, saying government has been very consistent in the payment of its contributions on a monthly basis.
“Government is not only committed, but showing the political will in this programme and that is why the journey is smooth, though there are challenges of course, but we thank government for its commitment thus far”, he avered.
Dr Aledare added that plans are on to establish offices in all the Local Governments as well as have offices in hospitals to ease enrollment and health attention, warning too that health facilities and service providers found to be ineffective will be sanctioned appropriately.
