KGSG Launches Ten-Year Strategic Healthcare Plan
… Set to Revamp 63 Primary Healthcare Centres Across 21 LGAs
Kogi State Government has launched a ten-year strategic plan aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery for civil servants and vulnerable citizens of the state.
The flag off/launch of access to healthcare took place on Wednesday in Lokoja by the State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Hillcrest TV correspondent who were at the event confirm that the initiative is set to cater for over 32,000 beneficiaries in the formal sector and 41,587 beneficiaries under the basic healthcare provision fund.
The event also marked the unveiling of a 10-Year Strategic Plan by the government under the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency to cover 2024 to 2033.
Governor Ododo, who affirmed his commitment to fulfilling the obligations of the mandate entrusted to him by the people of Kogi State, promised to work hard to ensure the expansion of the initiative to reach more beneficiaries.
He also revealed ongoing efforts by his government to revamp healthcare facilities in rural communities, with plans to establish 63 primary care centers, three in each of the state’s 21 Local Government Areas to attend to their health needs.
According to Governor Ododo, the mandate given to him in trust by the people of Kogi State would be held dear and promised to justify the trust.
In his words, “I belong to the downtrodden. This effort being launched today will be expanded so that more beneficiaries can emerge from the opportunity. And I will continue to work to give back to society without biases.”
Governor Ododo stressed that the government of President Bola Tinubu has given governments across the board the enabling empowerment to thrive, adding that his administration would have no reason not to deliver on its promises to the people of Kogi State.
He further reassured the people that his administration would do all within its power to take governance to the grassroots, stressing, “We are taking governance from the grassroots to the top. They are the real reason we have governance at the top today, and they need to feel the impact of the government.
“Currently, we are working on revamping healthcare facilities in rural areas where needed. Sixty-three (63) primary care centers, three (3) in each local government in the twenty-one (21) local government to handle health needs and my government is set to approve and ensure the establishment of the minimum basic standard.”
He expressed gratitude to his predecessor, Governor Yahaya Bello whom he noted had laid a solid foundation for his government to build on, and equally commended the Kogi State Chapter of the organised labour for giving their necessary support to the success of the smooth take-off of the initative.
Speaking in a goodwill message, the Secretary to the Government of Kogi State, Mrs. Folashade Arike Ayoade applauded the initiative and pointed out some of the benefits of keying into the opportunity to include access to free healthcare services.
In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adam Adeiza who noted that the healthcare insurance scheme has come to stay, appreciated the government for the effort which he stressed would help the sector to achieve the universal healthcare mandate.
“As a health institution, we are ready to serve the people based on the mandate given to us. We will be at our best and do it to the best of our ability because this is a government and governance of continuum. And the mandate given to me, and I shall not fail my leaders,” he assured.
In their separate remarks, the DG and CEO of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, and the Chairman of the Forum of Executive Secretaries of State Healthcare in Nigeria, Dr Simeon Onyemeachi commended the Kogi Government for the bold step, saying that the aim of the scheme is to reduce healthcare poverty and out-of-pocket spending on health access.
“Our aim is to reduce health poverty, which is an issue in the land. This means that people who cannot pay for health and who may not be able to access care will now have free access to care and those who can without insurance when struck with ailments that may leave them bankrupt can now enjoy support.”
They eulogized Governor Ododo for placing priority attention on the healthcare needs of the people of the state, adding that the government is forward-thinking to have launched the scheme and come up with a ten-year strategic plan that would ease the challenges the average citizen faces majorly in trying to obtain healthcare.