Owe Sons and Daughters in the health sector have called on well meaning individuals, corporate organisations, govt agencies and international donors to support the newly established Owe Health Insurance Scheme to help the elderly people and vulnerable groups in the community.
This was disclosed last week by the Coordinator, Dr. Alori Samuel Dare at a Webinar tagged Owe Health Insurance Scheme in focus.
According to him, since the entire world is now a global village and considering the myriad of challenges confronting households due to the economic realities of the world, health insurance scheme is the way to go in assisting the elderly and vulnerable groups within and outside the community.
He said their target is the entire Okun land but using Owe Community as a pilot project to see how the people will respond to the program, stressing that there is need for a concerted effort to invest in the health sector of the people.
Dr Alori said the center in Kabba is in St John Catholic Hospital and it will need a registration of 1000 participants before it can take off fully, noting that the benefit inherent in the scheme cannot be over emphasized, hence there is need for people who are well to do to support the project by donating generously to the scheme to register as many people as possible.
He said it takes only three thousand naira (#3000) to register one person, urging people to an advantage of the opportunity.
He commended Kogi State Government for taking a leadership in the scheme, stressing that health insurance is the panacea to tackling health challenges as it is the only scheme that can provide sustainable quality healthcare delivery to the people.
Also speaking is the representative of Owe Mutual Health Association (OMHA), Mr Augustine Olorunpomi said the scheme will place the community at par with other global Communities that enjoy qualitative health care services when it takes off.
He said they are still expecting more registration to meet up the threshold of one thousand participants (1000) per centre before it can commence operation.
He called on individuals that are well to do to come to their aid to meet their target this December for the scheme to commence by January, 2021.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary, Kogi State Health Insurance Scheme, Dr Adekunle Aledare commended the efforts of OMHA, stressing that with their level of preparations, the State agency is fully in their support.
He said just last week the State Executive Council approved the Government premium contributions for the agency to commence formal sector enrolment, stressing that other plans of the agency are that of Community based health insurance plan, voluntary contributors insurance and vulnerable health insurance plans.
In his goodwill message, the National President of Okun Development Association, Barrister Femi Mokikan lauded the initiative and promised on behalf of his association to work with the organisers of the program.
Similarly, the President General of Kabba Development Union, Engr. Emmanuel Ajibero appreciated and commended the organisers of the programme assuring them of the community’s support with that of all associations in Kabba Community.
He commended the management of St John Catholic Hospital and the Catholic Church for their giant strides in all areas they have been contributing to the growth of the community, noting that their efforts are well appreciated.
While in their paper presented separately, Dr. Kuti Tosin, Dr. Akinola Abiodun, Dr Joseph Amakurugbowo harped on the need for Communities to tow the path of health insurance schemes, noting that, it is the only way to enjoy sustainable quality healthcare services.
They enjoined the people to continue to invest in their health needs.