…Urges States to key into health insurance schemes to improve health care needs of citizens
BY ODIE RAMON, YENAGOA.
Running mate to the Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and governor of Delta state has called on more States in the country to key into Health Insurance Schemes.
Dr Okowa who made the call while inaugurating the Bayelsa Health Insurance Building at the State Secretariat Complex in Yenagoa stressed that Health Insurance provides opportunity for more citizens to have access to affordable health care services.
Dr Ifeanyi Okowa who noted that the 2004 Health Insurance Act of the country makes it mandatory for every Nigerian to be enrolled in the scheme, regretted that only about 15 percent coverage had been achieved in terms of the populace
Dr Okowa who is the Governor of Delta State said it was important for Government across the States to accord priority to the health needs of their populace.
He stated that one way of providing improved health care services to citizens, particularly the less privileged in society was by adapting Health Insurance Schemes which subsidizes the payment for such services.
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa who said the current administration in the State expanded the Health Insurance Scheme initiated by his predecessor, Senator SeriakeDickson to include the informal sector, pledged to sustain the programme.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Health in the State, Dr. Pabara Igwele pointed out that the World Health Organization had encouraged nations to provide Health Insurance schemes for their citizens funded through socialcontributions rather than from individual pockets.
Executive secretary of the Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme, Dr. Agadah Zuoboemi said since its inception, the initiative has registered over 121 thousand civil servants and their dependants, 5 thousand private individuals, 15 private organizations and schools, carried out 4,446 major surgeries with Caesarian session alone accounting for one thousand, ninety-five, with over 667 thousand hospital attendance with about four billion Naira paid as capitation and fee for secondary services to hospitals.
