By Emmanuel Oluwakorede, Lokoja
Kogi State Health Insurance Agency has called on stakeholders to support its drive to boost enrollment of its health insurance Programme in the informal sector.
The Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr. Adekunle Aledare made the call at a Stakeholders engagement on informal sector mapping in Lokoja.
Following the success story of the Formal Sector plan for Kogi State Civil Servants, the Health Insurance Agency is set to launch the informal sector plan for artisans, vendors, service providers among others.
The Stakeholders Engagement which had in attendance health practitioners, Religious Leaders and Civil Society organisations was to brainstorm ahead of the health insurance for the informal sector.
The Permanent Secretary, Kogi State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Enehe Dorcas Omeneke noted that the informal sector plan is critical for the expansion of the health coverage of the State.
Mrs. Enehe enjoined the Stakeholders to bring their wealth of experience to bear in ensuring universal health coverage in the State.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr. Adekunle Aledare stated that the Agency has made remarkable progress with the political will provided by the immediate past Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and current Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.
According to him, about two hundred and forty enrolees are currently accessing quality health care across the State.
He added that the Formal Sector plan for Local Government will soon commenced, urging participants at the meeting to support the informal sector plan.
There were goodwill messages from the Board Chairman of the Agency, Pharmacist Arikochonu Suberu, representatives of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jamatul Nasir Islam (JNI) and NGOs, who urged the people to embrace health insurance for improved health care.
