Obaseki Approves Free Health Insurance for Edo Pensioners, Vigilante Operatives, Others

 …recommits to Universal Health Coverage

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has approved the provision of free health insurance for pensioners in the State to cater to the health needs of the senior citizens.

The Director-General of the Edo State Health Insurance Commission, Dr. Rock Amegor, said the free health insurance service will also cover operatives of the State’s Security Vigilante Network.

Amegor, who disclosed this while briefing journalists in Benin City, said the government is committed to ensuring quality and affordable healthcare delivery, noting that the service will mitigate out-of-pocket spending for the beneficiaries and facilitate the attainment of Universal Health Coverage for all residents.

Hailing the Governor as a pacesetter, Amegor said the government has set out N1bn to cover the free health insurance service to the pensioners and vigilantes, among others.

He noted, “We want to thank the Governor of Edo State for this initiative and for being a pacesetter as Edo State is the second State in Nigeria covering for pensioners for free of charge. I want to use this opportunity to call on all pensioners across the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State to take advantage and start enrollment as soon as details of enrollment come out.”

According to him, “As part of the government’s initiative for Universal Health Coverage for citizens of the State, Edo State Government led by Governor Godwin Obaseki has decided to cover pensioners across the 18 Local Government Areas of the State free of charge. This initiative has been borne out of the economic downturn as pensioners who have served us should not worry about paying out-of-pocket when they get to the health care facilities as it brings stability to the pensioners."

“The service covered is a robust medical care that can take care of about 70 to 80 percent of all medical challenges expected at one point in our lives and the services include medical, eye care and dental care amongst other care."

“We thank the Edo State Government and are urging other State Governors to emulate Edo State to ensure our pensioners are covered and need not to worry about their health.”

The Director General added, “The government of Obaseki has been digitalized and most of our information from September 1st are now in our electronic system and we are lifting all the over 11,000 details we have gotten from our ICT and will verify those who are alive, relocated, those who need to update their profile."

“After this, in the first quarter of next year, we will reach out to pensioners and allocate facilities closest to their houses.  We need to scrutinize the details as service has started for over 200,000 enrollees. So, to onboard the 12,000 pensioners into the scheme will not be difficult for us.”

He said the onboarding process for pensioners and vigilante operatives will start on Thursday 21st of December 2023, noting, “The onboarding process for pensioners will start on the Thursday 21st of December 2023 at the Festival Hall in Government House and the financial implications cut across not only pensioners but also State Security Network and a few other people. It's in excess of about N1 billion for the coverage of 12,000 pensioners, 4,000 operatives of the Edo State Security Vigilante Network, and a top-up plan. The process will commence in the first quarter of 2024. The government is investing over a billion naira for these people into the Edo Health Insurance Scheme.”

Amegor further stated, “For over two years, we have been giving coverage, and most civil servants are covered by the scheme including their dependents, and today, we have over 200,000 people on the scheme. We have been taking it in bits. We started with the formal sector and then the informal sector. So, we are now focusing on pensioners and those securing our lives.  It’s time to cover them."

“Today, we have about 302 facilities in the scheme which will cover the pensioners and vigilante members as we set criteria that need to be met to benefit from the system.”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Education Remains a Top Priority of Our Policy Thrust: Gov. Fubara

Image
The Rivers State Government says it will continue to place education as one of the top most priorities of its policy thrust. Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara stated this during the 34th Convocation Ceremony of the University of Port Harcourt on Saturday 24th February, 2024. The Governor who spoke through his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Nma Odu, said although the University of Port Harcourt is a Federal University the State Government would continue to support and collaborate with it to place it in a path that  would be the envy of other institutions. “We shall support you because whenever we add value to this institution, you add double value to whatever we have placed before you and we shall continue to ensure that you are given a place of high distinction and excellence”, the Governor stressed. Governor Fubara disclosed that his administration was desirous to create the enabling environment to ensure Rivers State remains a preferred destination to achieve quality education in the count...
Read more

Governor Mutfwang Crowns New Ngolong Ngas, HRH Nde Jika Golit

Image
The Executive Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has performed the coronation of the New Ngolong Ngas, Nde Jika Golit. The ceremony is coming nine years after the demise of the late Ngolong Ngas, Nde Joshua Dimlong. Governor Mutfwang, who performed the presentation of staff of office and certificate to the New Ngolong Ngas at the Pankshin Township Stadium, praised the Ngas Nation for a rancor-free selection process of the new Ngolong Ngas. He warned mischief makers against needless court actions that are capable of delaying or frustrating the selection and installation of traditional rulers in the state. He also implored citizens to alway accept the will of God in all circumstances. "I congratulate the Ngolong Ngas, Nde Jika Golit, on his ascension to the throne of his ancestors. His selection by the kingmakers, through a peaceful and rancor-free atmosphere, is worthy of emulation by other ethnic groups in the state." the Governor stated. "Let me s...
Read more

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE PDP GOVERNORS’ FORUM AT THE END OF AN ENLARGED MEETING ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2024

Image
The PDP Governors’ Forum under the leadership of H.E. Governor Bala A. Mohammed, CON, held an enlarged meeting at the Bauchi State Governors’ Lodge, Tatari Ali House, Asokoro on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. Rising from the consultative meeting of the various organs of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the Party resolved as follows: 1. The National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting originally slated for October 24, 2024, has been rescheduled to November 28, 2024. 2. The postponement is to ensure that the party goes into the forthcoming Ondo gubernatorial elections of November 16, 2024 with the unity and strength demanded to unseat the floundering All Progressive Congress, APC government in the state. 3. Reiterating the need for unity in the face of efforts by detractors to divide the party, the meeting called on all members to shun divisive utterances that could undermine ongoing efforts at strengthening the party to effectively play its role as the country’s main opposition, preparatory...
Read more