The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo recently flagged off and launched the access to care program for 32,000 enrollees in the Formal Sector Plan, as well as 41,587 enrollees in the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund. Additionally, he launched the Ten Years Strategic Plan of the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency.
He expressed his appreciation for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s dedication to improving healthcare and achieving universal health coverage through the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Governor Ododo also thanked the New Direction Administration, led by His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello, for establishing the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency despite challenges faced by previous governments.
The significant investments in the health sector have laid a strong foundation for enhancing the health system and ensuring a healthier future for the people of Kogi State.
Governor Ododo emphasized his administration’s commitment to building on past achievements in the health sector, focusing on human capital development, and revitalizing Primary Health Care Centers throughout the state to enhance service delivery in rural areas.
He pledged to upgrade and provide ongoing support to 63 Primary Health Centers across the 21 Local Government Areas, surpassing the minimum basic standards for primary healthcare. Furthermore, Governor Ododo vowed to work towards achieving the global target of Universal Health Coverage by 2030, with the launch of a Ten Years Strategic Plan to guide this effort.
The lack of financial access to healthcare services has been identified as a major obstacle to seeking proper healthcare in Kogi State, contributing to poor health outcomes. Addressing this issue is crucial to improving health indicators in the state and the country as a whole.
The rising cost of health care services in the country due to the high inflation rate in the country 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 have 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 organized labour for your unwavering commitment to the welfare of the Civil Servants in the State. The 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 compliment 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 will 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.
Governor 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.