Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu flanked by the Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Femi Thomas (right) and Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olusola Fasuba during a courtesy call by the NHIS Team to the deputy governor at work.
A plan to fast-track the implementation of its health programmes and its free health care services to infants, expectant mothers and the aged was yesterday unfolded by the Ekiti State government. It spoke of plan to use the window offered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to fulfill its health obligation to the citizenry.
Deputy Governor Prof Modupe Adelabu, dropped the hint when the Executive Secretary of the NIHS, Dr Femi Thomas led a delegation to her at work in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
She explained that the Governor Kayode Fayemi administration was applying every strategy to ensure that every resident has access to qualitative health care services, which is the fifth item on the Eight-Point Agenda of the present government.
She said: “To ensure that the free health touches every class of the society, the government has taken free heath to every nook and crannies of the state through its Free Health Mission, Ilera L’aafin,(free health at the door steps of traditional rulers) and now free medical check-up and treatment for the civil servants are part of the strategies to make sure that every citizen enjoys good health and are able to make meaningful contribution to the development of the state.”
According to her, the government has found a veritable platform in the NHIS to fast-track its health care agenda and will not hesitate to key into the scheme, more so that it is in tandem with the government agenda and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
In his remark, NHIS Executive Secretary, Dr. Thomas commended the administration of governor Fayemi for its landmark accomplishment in the health sector, particularly in the area of maternal and child health.
Dr. Thomas, a former Commissioner for Health in Ekiti State, noted that the strategic implementation of the free health scheme by the government has tremendously reduced the maternal and child mortality in the state and increased life expectancy.
The NIHS chief told the deputy governor that he was in the state to fashion out how the state could key into the NHIS programmes and Universal Health Scheme. He urged the state government to bring in the formal sector such as the labour unions into the NHIS to enable them partake in the numerous advantages it offers, even as he requested for a piece of land in a good location in the state capital where the organization could build its office.
Last modified: February 17, 2014