Health Insurance Scheme: Ogun Seeks Support of Market Leaders

By Our Correspondent

The Ogun State government has solicited the support of market leaders in the state for the success of the informal sector of its  Health Insurance Scheme in various markets as part of measures towards achieving universal health coverage. 

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, during a meeting with market leaders from Remo, Ijebu, Yewa, and Egba Zones of the State in Abeokuta, said the present administration had invested hugely in the health sector, particularly in the area of upgrading and staffing of facilities across the State, saying these would contribute to the quality of care provided to subscribers to the health insurance scheme. 

She said the government had engaged different stakeholders in the informal sector such as Community Development Associations ( CDAs), artisans, and traditional leaders, calling on market leaders to use their influence to spread the gospel of Health Insurance to all market women and traders. 

"We understand the need to reach all stakeholders in the society and make them realize the long-term benefits of this scheme. Also, we have enrolled thousands of vulnerable on the Scheme for free through the Basic Healthcare Provisions Fund (BHCPF), which is an aspect of our Health Insurance. 

"The vision of His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun is to make qualitative healthcare accessible  to all residents of Ogun State. The Insurance programme is aimed at helping us actualize this vision", she said. 

The Commissioner further disclosed that the benefits package includes more than 200 services such as internal medicine, maternal, neonatal, and child health services, surgery, eye care, emergency psychiatry management, emergency care, and annual screening for communicable diseases, urging traders in markets and other residents of the State to subscribe the Scheme. 

Speaking earlier, the Executive Secretary, Ogun State Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Afolabi Dosumu, said that the monthly payment of N1,000 per head and N4,000 for a family of six would save residents the stress of paying out-of-pocket during health emergency. 

He said that the third party administrators are available in all local governments of the state to enrol people.

Responding on behalf of the market leaders, the Iyaloja-General of Ogun State and the Iyaloja of Yewaland, Alhaja Anifat Abass, lauded the State government for facilitating the Insurance Scheme, promising that leaders in all the four market zones of the State would support the government to promote the Scheme in their domains.