Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has flagged – off the Enrollment of Beneficiaries into the State Health Insurance Scheme.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor ,Onogwu Muhammed in a statement said the Governor performed the ceremony at the government house,Lokoja.
Speaking at the event in Lokoja,the State Commissioner for health, Dr. Saka Audu said the health insurance scheme will help to provide financial risk protection to citizens of Kogi State and also help in strengthening health system in the state.
The Commissioner said the scheme would help in the reduction of user fees which constitute a major barriers in accessing healthcare needs at the point of service delivery
The Kogi State Health Insurance Agency will enroll 19,177 civil servants with 4-5 defendants in the state, 31,491 persons through the Basic healthcare Provision Fund.
The programme covers pregnant women, children under-5, physically, mentally challenged persons, elder (70-years and above excluding retirees) and any other groups considered as vulnerable as determined by the board of the agency.
Speaking on behalf of the Organised Labour in the state, the Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Kogi State Chapter, Comrade Meliga Obaka described the initiative as brand new baby of the New Direction Administration, noting that past administrations made effort to set up health insurance agency but could not succeed.
