Biodun Esan, Ilorin Dr Olubunmi Jetawo-Winterm Executive Secretary of the Kwara Health Insurance Agency, has announced that the agency has o...
Biodun Esan, Ilorin
Dr Olubunmi Jetawo-Winterm Executive Secretary of the Kwara Health Insurance Agency, has announced that the agency has over 70,000 enrollees in the list of its healthcare service providers.
Jetawo-Wniterm said this in Ilorin while speaking with newsmen at the sideline of the stakeholders’ engagement with sponsors and service providers.
Kwara State First Lady, Ambassador Olufolake AbdulRazaq, officials of National and Kwara State Health Insurance Agencies, healthcare services providers, and sponsors on Tuesday met in Ilorin on strengthening healthcare financing to lessen the burden of healthcare on the vulnerable and indigent population.
The event was organized by the Kwara State Health Insurance Agency, where stakeholders resolved the need to strengthen advocacy on attracting more sponsors for the indigent population and promote access to subsidized healthcare services across the state to achieve universal health coverage.
"In September 2020 the program officially kicked off, the agency had 10, 000 enrollees but now we have about 70,000 people enrolled in health insurance.
“That is even without the formal sector. When the civil servants come on board, we are looking at additional 200,000 people", she said.
Dr Jetawo-Winter said financing health insurance was expected to come.from different stakeholders including the government and sponsors.
The executive secretary explained that subsidizing healthcare services would go a long way in ensuring that people have access to affordable healthcare delivery.
"As it stands in Kwara now, we have about 30 percent population who falls under the poverty index and who are poor.
“We need to subsidize them and this is where these invaluable sponsors come in because they go into their communities or catchment areas and mob up these indigents, who ordinarily, we have not gotten to because
the physical space for financing the poor is limited and these people have to be covered and renewed every year.
"So, these sponsors come in, pick up the population of people, and pay on their behalf so they can have access to quality and affordable healthcare services," she said.
Jetawo-Winter explained that the agency started with about 25 healthcare providers both in public and private hospitals but today.the number has increased to about 60 of them providing health services across the 16 local governments.
"This engagement is about discussing the financing mechanism to get us to cover all Kwara residents, especially the indigent population.
The three categories of people that we cover come from formal and informal sectors.
“Financing health insurance will come from different financing segments; the government will contribute a part as subsidy for the poor," the executive secretary added.
In her remarks, Ambassador AbdulRazaq, who was represented by Deputy
Director Ajike People Support Centre, Ganiyu Olarewaju Opeloyeru,.applauded the agency for securing the needed support of all.stakeholders for improved outcomes in the health sector.
"I am proud to identify with the laudable activities of Kwara State Health Insurance Agency and by extension the health programs of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq's administration.
“I am aware of your efforts in ensuring that more people are carrying along in the agency's activities. More people are now keying into the health insurance scheme.
"I am also proud of your intervention in the Kwara State School for Special Needs," Ambassador AbdulRazaq said.
She appreciated the service providers and sponsors and others for their collaborative efforts and urged them to always be on the same page with the state health insurance agency for positive results.
In attendance were representative of the Head of Service and Permanent Secretary of Service Welfare; Salami S Tunde, and a representative of the Ministry of Health, Dr Oyeyipo Olabisi Adebusola.
Others were representatives of the State Coordinator National Health Insurance Authority Ahmed Yahaya and representative of the National Health Insurance Authority, Standard and Quality Assurance (SQA) Unit Kwara State, Saka Ismail Agboola.
Some of the participants who spoke at the stakeholders' engagement included a representative of Cottage Hospital Ijagbo Mutalib Moshood; a representative of CHL Healthcare Services Offa Mrs. Latifah Lateef; and a representative of General Hospital Ilorin Zubair Ibrahim Dasuki.
They also include a representative of the LEAH Foundation Ismail Sanni; and a representative of Offa Descendants Union of North America (ODUNA) and Kwara State Association of Nigeria North America (KSANG) Dr Sariyu Kola-Oyewole.
The stakeholders spoke on the success stories of the scheme,
identified various challenges, and deliberated on the way forward.
They agreed that the scheme is beneficial and promised to carry out intensive sensitization programs to improve access to health facilities.
Also speaking, the Principal, of Kwara State School for Special Needs, Mr Abdulganiyu Olododo appreciated the Agency for its support to
healthcare delivery of pupils and students of the school.
"The Agency has transformed an ordinary clinic into a mini hospital..The Agency has equipped our hospital.
“Also, Kwara Health Insurance Agency has opened an account for us to buy drugs every month and promised to give us more staff.
“So, on behalf of the school management and students of the school, we appreciate all your efforts," the Principal added.
END
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