Kogi State Government, through the State Health Insurance Agency, KGSHIA, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the State owned tertiary institutions.
The programme tagged Tertiary Institutions Social Health Insurance Programme, TISHIP, is to enable students in higher institutions to have access to quality health care services with minimum costs.
While Signing the Memorandum of Understanding, the Secretary to the Government of Kogi State, Mrs Folashade Arike Ayoade (PhD) described the scheme as laudable, as it will improve effective and efficient health care delivery services on campuses.
She said the scheme would protect students and families from financial hardship of huge medical bills, maintain a high standard of healthcare delivery services and provide better funding opportunities for the Tertiary Institutions health centres.
The SGS noted that though very laudable, there was a need for thorough sensitization and awareness amongst the Student Union Government and other Students bodies on campuses on the benefits of the programme
Mrs Folashade commended the Executive Secretary of the KGSHIA for making the State proud and congratulated heads of institutions on the take off of the scheme.
Earlier in his speech, the Executive Secretary, Kogi State Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Adekunle Aledare described the signing of the MoU between Government and the tertiary institutions as a
significant milestones for the health delivery system and target for the universal health coverage.
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He disclosed that over forty four thousand civil servants are currently benefiting from the health insurance scheme and expressed appreciation to the former Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, and thanked Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for ensuring continuity and consolidation as seen through the TSHIP program.
While pointing out that the TSHIP program was initiated by the former Governor Bello, praised Governor Ododo for validating the approval for the benefit of the students in Tertiary Institutions.
The Executive Secretary disclosed that the TSHIP program will provide access to quality health services to students in State owned tertiary institutions, pointing out that it will afford them the opportunity to have holistic health care from health institutions on campus, explaining that where necessary, students could be referred to other accredited secondary and tertiary health institutions in the State.
“Let me say it categorically that the signing of the MoU is a significant milestone in the journey towards attaining the universal health coverage and importantly too, this TSHIP programme is in line with that of National Health Insurance Authority which provides effective service to all students in federally owned educational institutions, and so, with this signing today, it is going to be well with our students on campuses in terms of health delivery”, he stated.
According to the Executive Secretary, under the new arrangement, students are to pay the sum of N2000 as a medical fee every session, with N1,400 going directly to the school clinic, while six hundred naira will go to the KGSHIA.
The ten percent payment does not apply to the TISHIP scheme as highlighted by the Executive Secretary.
Responding on behalf of the heads of tertiary institutions in the State, the Vice Chancellor, Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, PAAU, Professor Marietu Tenuche, described the scheme as a positive development and assured of the full cooperation of heads of institutions for the total success of the health initiative.
