Kwara Enrolls Fresh 21,750 In Free Health Insurance

Kwara State government has enrolled additional 21,750 indigents in free health insurance package for the next one year.

Added to 29,000 Kwarans sponsored through the FG-funded Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) which the state invested in, the 21,750 new enrollees bring the total beneficiaries of free healthcare in the state to 51,750 for 2022-2023.

At the official launch of the Phase II of health insurance enrollment in Ilorin on Friday, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said the administration has invested heavily in the procurement of new medical equipment and employment of health personnel to boost the state’s capacity to deliver quality healthcare services to an average Kwaran.

He said with the 21,750 indigents newly enrolled into the State free health insurance scheme, the administration was making another landmark achievement in the health sector.

The programme was organized by the Kwara State Health Insurance Agency (KWHIA) under Dr. Olubunmi Jettawo-Winter.

“We are writing another success story of our administration today. Today, we are enrolling 21,750 indigents into our free health insurance scheme. Added to some 29,000 indigents whose subscriptions we have also renewed under the Basic Health Insurance Provision Fund, this brings to 51,750 the tally of people who will access free healthcare for the year 2022-2023. I am glad that thousands of working class people have also subscribed on their own,” the Governor said.

Represented by the secretary to the state government, Prof. Mamman Jibril, AbdulRazaq said the scheme covers antenatal care, deliveries, surgeries, diabetes and asthma, among other chronic and non-chronic illnesses for the beneficiaries.

“This explains why our state is emerging as a bright spot in national health indices.This did not just happen. It is all a culmination of our serious efforts in the sector. Our investments in new medical gadgets, facilities, and personnel have boosted our capacity to offer improved healthcare delivery,” he said.

The governor said for the first time in the State, the administration has made available N100m equity funds to enroll the indigents, adding that the government has also paid the counterpart funds that qualified Kwara to be part of the BHCPF programme of the federal government.

He commended the executive secretary of the agency Dr. Olubunmi Jettawo-Winter and her team for doing a good job, and appreciated the people of the State for their confidence in the programme.