HEALTH INSURANCE WILL IMPROVE CIVIL SERVANTS PRODUCTIVITY – Ododo
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo has stated that equitable access to health care services provided by Kogi State Health Insurance Agency will reduce out of pocket expenditure on health care and increase the productivity of the workforce of the state.
Governor Ododo who stated this at the launch/flag-off ceremony of the formal sector health insurance plan on Wednesday at the Glass House of Government House Lokoja also said his administration will be committed to the terms of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with the organized labour on the health insurance plan in the state.
The governor further said he will revamp three primary health care centers in each Local Government Area of the state to make quality and affordable health care services closer to the people.
Governor Ododo applauded the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinibu describing it as a purposeful driven agenda for Nigerians. He said his administration will continue to key into the renewed hope agenda of President Tinibu.
The Director General of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr Kelechi Ohiri commended governor Ododo for providing the political and financial commitment needed to ensure the state health insurance agency function optimally. He maintained that the federal government is poised to accelerate attainment of Universal Health Coverage.
The Secretary to Kogi State government, Mrs Folashade Arike Ayo-Ade PHD stated that the federal civil servants have been enjoying health insurance coverage for long adding that she was glad to lead the signing of the MOU between the state government and the organized labour for the formal sector health insurance plan for the benefit of the civil servants in the state.
The Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza said the state government will continue to give priority attention to the health sector in the state. He added that the Launch/flag-off of the formal sector health insurance plan would reduce out of pocket expenditure on health care amongst the civil servants.
The Executive Secretary of Kogi State Health Insurance Agency, Dr Adekunle Aledare thanked the state government for establishing the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency in 2019 and also for the strong political commitment for its programmes. He also thanked the organized Labour in the state for their constructive engagement. He said the health insurance plan will guarantee easy access to quality healthcare for civil servants in the state.
The chairman of the Kogi State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Gabriel Amari stated that labour has been involved in the last three to four years processes leading to the launch of the formal sector health insurance plan for Kogi State Civil Servants. He declared that the organized labour is in full support of the formal sector health insurance plan for civil servants.