Toba Owojaiye reporting
Benin, Edo
In a recent interview, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, highlighted the significant strides made in revolutionizing the state’s healthcare system over the past seven years. The state now ranks among the top five in healthcare provision, life expectancy, and key indicators in Nigeria’s healthcare landscape.
Governor Obaseki emphasized the success of the Edo State Health Insurance Scheme, boasting over 200,000 subscribers. He outlined the administration’s commitment to decentralizing healthcare, focusing on strengthening primary healthcare supported by secondary, tertiary, and specialist hospitals across the state’s three senatorial districts.
Truth Live News gathered that an integral aspect of the healthcare transformation is the refurbishment of nearly 50 primary healthcare centers to world-class standards. Governor Obaseki stressed the revolutionary aspect of the healthcare financing strategy, addressing the common deterrent of payment concerns. The mandatory Edo Health Insurance Scheme ensures that registered individuals can access healthcare at any approved center, public or private, marking a groundbreaking shift.
Governor Obaseki proudly declared, “Today, Edo ranks among the top five states in terms of healthcare provision, life expectancy, and other key indicators in the country’s healthcare space.” Looking ahead to 2024, he revealed the allocation of 10% of the budget to address healthcare needs. This includes funds for completing the In-Patient Department and Accident and Emergency Wards of the Stella Obasanjo Hospital, along with further enhancements to primary healthcare centers statewide.
The governor emphasized commitments to statutory payments for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and the Edo State Health Insurance Scheme. These financial initiatives aim to attract more private sector providers to the state while mitigating out-of-pocket spending on health services.
This giant stride is in tandem with the governor”s “ Finishing Well” mantra and provides the basic health framework for a flourishing and healthy state.