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,,,,, Launches Free Health Insurance for Pensioners.
By Maryam Gulma Abubakar in Lokoja.
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has declared immediate special monthly intervention allowance of N300,000 for every medical doctor in the state civil service as part of efforts of his administration to curb the exodus of medical doctors and other health workers from the state, a development referred to as japa syndrome.
Governor Ododo made the announcement on Monday at the Glass House, Government House, Lokoja, during the official flag-off of access-to-care coverage for over 76,000 residents under the Kogi State Health Insurance Scheme.
The governor also rolled out a free healthcare insurance package for pensioners earning below ₦50,000 monthly, with pensioners earning above ₦50,000 to contribute ₦650 monthly, while those earning above ₦100,000 will pay ₦1,250.
He explained that the initiative was aimed at reducing the financial burden of healthcare on retirees, students, civil servants, and people in the informal sector.
According to him, “a healthy workforce is a successful workforce,” adding that the programme would help reduce maternal and child mortality while ensuring wider access to affordable health services.
To expand coverage, Governor Ododo directed members of the State Executive Council to sponsor enrolments into the health insurance scheme.
Commissioners,he further directed,are expected to enrol 50 persons each, Special Advisers, Executive Secretaries, and Managing Directors 20 persons each, while Senior Special Assistants will enrol five persons each.
The governor inaugurated two new Toyota Hilux vehicles to strengthen the operations of the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency and appointed Dr. Ajono Monday as the new Executive Secretary of the agency.
Governor Ododo appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for economic policies that have enhanced state-level healthcare reforms and commended former Governor Yahaya Bello for laying the foundation through the establishment of the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency.
He reassured Kogi people that his administration is committed to protecting families from catastrophic health expenses, especially the vulnerable and indigent population.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Kogi Pension Commission, Hajia Maryam Abedo has described the free health insurance initiative for pensioners as “unprecedented” and a huge relief to retirees who often struggle with high medical costs.
Representatives of development partners, including WHO, praised the enabling environment provided by the state government, which has allowed for deeper collaboration in the health sector.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulaziz Adams Adeiza, noted that the governor’s interventions were aimed at putting the health sector on a sustainable path,and to ease healthcare access for pensioners, students, and civil servants.
The governor also launched access to care for 28,056 enrollees under the Public Sector Employee Plan for local government workers,
3,429 enrollees under the Pensioners Contributory Health Plan and 44,760 students under the TISHIP programme
The Executive Director of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Muazu Musa, flagged off the distribution of healthcare equipment provided by international development partners, including Gavi, UNICEF, and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The items include 62 solar direct-drive refrigerators to safeguard vaccines, as part of efforts to revitalise healthcare facilities across the state.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
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