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Kwara begins advocacy to launch health insurance scheme

By Passion Pela
20 February 2018   |   3:13 am
Kwara State government has began advocacy activities to launch its Health Insurance Scheme (KWHIS).The scheme is a mandatory health insurance programme that would improve access to quality, equitable and affordable healthcare services in the state.

Health

Kwara State government has began advocacy activities to launch its Health Insurance Scheme (KWHIS).The scheme is a mandatory health insurance programme that would improve access to quality, equitable and affordable healthcare services in the state.

The advocacy is expected to engage and prepare all stakeholders for the successful takeoff of the scheme. The KWHIS’s Interim Chairman, Dr. Bunmi Jetawo-Winter, said the event, which started on February 5, 2018, was a scale-up of the Community Based Health Insurance Scheme (CBHIS).It started in 2007 with the support of PharmAccess Foundation and the Dutch Health Insurance Fund.

She added that the CBHIS commenced in Edu Local Government Area and expanded to 11 other council areas by 2009.The scheme in the three senatorial districts, provided coverage at the time for over 200,000 residents of the state.Jewato-Winter said the CBHIS proved a major success and generated significant impact in healthcare delivery and access within the state.

“It garnered momentous attention locally and internationally and received the Financial Times/IFC Transformational Business Award for Achievement in Sustainable Development: Maternal and Infant Health,” she said.

The gains of the CBHIS, she said, paved the way for the adoption of a statewide Mandatory Health Insurance Scheme that would extend financial coverage for healthcare services to all residents of the state.

The Country Director of PharmAccess Foundation, Mrs. Njide Ndili, expressed appreciation at the level of progress.She commended Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed for his unwavering commitment to providing health coverage for residents of the state.“Kwara State remains a front runner to achieving universal health coverage and as an organisation, we would continue to lend our support to achieve the goal,” Ndili assured.

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