A foundation concerned with grassroots health development in Kwara state has presented a N6 Million cheque to the state Health Insurance Agency (KwHIA).
The gesture is to cater for health insurance enrolment of 1,000 indigent beneficiaries in the six local government areas of the Kwara South senatorial district.
Presenting the cheque to the agency on Tuesday, the Oyun local government coordinator of the Lekan Adewoye Foundation, Hammed Kolawole, said the group aimed to provide the beneficiaries such opportunities to access quality health care services at quality facilities to improve their health significantly.
He also said the health insurance package covers chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure, among others.
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The executive secretary of the Kwara state Health Insurance Agency (KWHIA), Dr. Olubunmi Jetawo-Winter, thanked the foundation for supporting and promoting enrollment of indigent people in the grassroots areas.
Jetawo-Winter said that the agency now has close to 60,000 enrollees as well as 85 service providers across the state, adding that regional offices have been opened in four towns.
The executive secretary, who said that the health insurance scheme is working for people of Kwara state, added that the effectiveness of the scheme informed why donors are supporting enrolment of their people for the scheme.
She said KWHIA is a social intervention to reduce spending on health matters through financial support of the government.
“The government cannot be left alone to do everything. Sponsorships like this help to further penetration of health insurance to the grassroots where we mostly need them. People who cannot afford to pay for their health care needs and would have been looking for alternative means, now have the foundation providing opportunity for them to access quality health care services.
She said that the KWHIA has attracted both local and international donors who have contributed to efforts at ensuring the health insurance scheme spreads to grassroots, “where we need them most”.
“We’re thankful to the foundation for supporting all the six local governments in the Kwara South senatorial district. 1,000 enrolment will definitely penetrate the people and we’ll identify the poorest of the poor who need it most to benefit from.
“We’re using this foundation to open channels for other donors to do the same for their own communities. If they keep on doing this, we’ll reach the nooks and crannies of Kwara state. While everyone would be proud of having quality health care”.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, said that everyone captured will be provided with good treatment, adding that the government has invested heavily in the health facilities.
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