Ogun State - Devt. Partners signify intension to support CBHIS in Ogun

[OgunState]

 The Ogun State Government has continued to receive the support of international donor partners and other stakeholders for the successful implementation of its Community Based Health Insurance Scheme (CBHIS) as part of efforts to make health care services accessible, affordable and sustainable for the people.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka stated this in Abeokuta while flagging off a 3-day training programme for Medical Officers of Health across the 20 Local Government Areas of the State.

Dr. Soyinka pointed out that international donor agencies such as the United Nations Population Fund Agency (UNFPA), World Health Organisation (WHO) and National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) have all signified interest to support the State on the scheme.

“Development partners such as UNFPA, WHO and even NHIS among others are showing interest to support us and we are ready to explore opportunities available in terms of expertise, materials, logistics and funds to standardize the scheme to set the pace for other States to emulate” he noted.

The Commissioner also revealed that efforts were in top gear to give the scheme a legislative backing through the State House of Assembly to ensure its continuity and sustainability even after the present administration had left office.

He therefore enjoined residents to embrace the scheme as it was capable of providing accessible, affordable and qualitative healthcare services, create local health economy within the communities and sustainable health care financing.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of one of the approved Health Management Organisations to manage the CBHIS in the State, Mr. Olalekan Ewenla has explained that the healthcare packages in the scheme would be jointly provided through a public-private partnership.

Mr. Ewenla who spoke during an advocacy visit to Olu of Ifo, Oba Samuel Oladipupo noted that State Government, Local Government Councils and the Health Management Organisations would all be involved in the implementation of the scheme and that it would be coordinated by the community to ensure its sustainance.

“The scheme is a bottom-top approach of healthcare that will be managed and coordinated by the community for its sustainance “Ewenla stated.

According to him, only 30% of the country’s population had been covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme, saying that the CBHIS remained a veritable and appropriate alternative to cater for the remaining 70%.

Via: Ogun State Government - Official Press Release

[Folami David]

Signification of their intention is not what we need right now from them, let them just take action fast. That's all we want