The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has pledged to sustain ongoing reforms in the health sector to ensure a strong and resilient health system to provide quality and efficient healthcare to residents and facilitate the attainment of Universal Health Coverage for all residents.
Obaseki gave the assurance in his message to commemorate the 2022 International Universal Health Coverage Day, marked by the United Nations and its sister agencies with the theme, “Build the world we want: A healthy future for all.”
According to him, “This year’s International Universal Health Coverage Day provides yet another fine opportunity to reflect on the importance of ensuring that everyone has access to affordable, efficient and quality healthcare services.”
He further noted, “As a government, we understand the role of a strong and resilient health system in enhancing economic growth and development and have implemented various initiatives to strengthen our healthcare system and improve access to healthcare, including the expansion of insurance coverage, the construction of new health facilities, and the training of more health workers.”
The governor stated, “The focus remains on developing a vibrant primary healthcare system. We have transferred staff from the Ministry of Health to the Edo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, while over 50 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) have been revamped, fitted with technology and powered with solar energy to ensure minimal downtimes.
“Leveraging strategic partnerships with the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANAP), we organised one of the largest medical outreaches in the country, providing our people with essential medical interventions that were previously out of their reach.
“The Edo State Health Insurance Scheme has continued to enroll more persons across various sectors of the economy so as to shore up the number of persons making out-of-pocket payments for healthcare services. We have made room for enrollees from the informal sector so as to have a robust scheme that can cater for the needs of the citizenry.”
He added, “But our work is not yet done. Universal health coverage is a goal that we must strive towards every day. To achieve universal health coverage, we must work together. Government, healthcare providers, and community organizations must all play their part.
“We must also partner with the private sector to ensure that we have the resources and expertise needed to provide high-quality healthcare to all our people. Together, we can ensure that everyone in Edo State has access to the healthcare they need to lead healthy, productive lives.”
