He spoke on Thursday at the Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square, New Owerri during the Activation of Access to Care for Universal Health Coverage for Imo State Workers.
The event was put together by the Imo State Ministry of Health and Health Insurance and related health agencies with support from the federal government and development partners.
At the event, Governor Uzodimma had also proposed that a 20 percent State Counterpart funding and an 80 percent Federal Government Counterpart funding will guarantee comprehensive and universal health Insurance Coverage in Imo State in line with World Health Organisation’s stipulation.
He congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari for the care he shows to the ordinary citizens in the country through his several Social Intervention Schemes.
Governor Uzodimma also thanked the World Health Organization, OICs, the Development Partners, the National Health Insurance Agency, the National Health Primary Development Authority, for their constructive and genuine partnership which they extended to Imo State.
He emphasized that the development partners and the Federal Government have helped the Imo State Government to build prosperity where every Imo indigene could be proud to say “I am from Imo State.”
The Governor noted: “Even in the midst of meagre resources available to the State Government and the Local Government, the only way government could achieve her desire to make Imo people happy is through collective efforts and partnership.”
He congratulated the Imo Civil Servants for finding courage to be involved in the Scheme knowing that the cost implications will be better realised collectively.
The Governor said under the Insurance Scheme, every sickness will be treated, including routine medical checks, apart from cancer.
He urged the private, informal and formal sectors to follow suit and support the government in actualising the Scheme “because it is the only way we can guarantee quality healthcare to our people.”
He added: “It has worked in advanced climes, so it has no reason not to work in Imo State.”
The Governor said the government under his watch will continue to support the programme and that “the Primary healthcare in Imo State has been supported as the Health Centres are functioning and are already working.”
For the success of the programme, the Governor identified that human factor is very important, hence he charged the operators of the programme in Imo State not to “hide under any bureaucracy to sabotage the programme” because the happiness of Imo people through quality healthcare is paramount to his administration.
Concluding, he reiterated his stand on partnership involving the Federal Government, WHO, Development Partners, State and Local Governments and said his government and all the groups will continue to cross-fertilise ideas as “a success in the programme will reduce unemployment as more doctors, nurses, health attendants and other categories of health workers will be engaged under the Scheme.”
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire represented by the Minister for Health (State), Barr. Joseph Nkama-Ekumankama in his address acknowledged that the launch of the programme is an indication that the 3R government pays attention to the health welfare of the Imo citizens.
He not only thanked the Governor for doing the needful to ensure that the programme is realised, but President Buhari for initiating the programme and sustaining it to fruition at the National level.
To the people Imo State, the Minister said that “the Health Insurance Scheme is a remarkable and laudable achievement for any government and a giant stride for a political Party as is the case in the Imo Shared Prosperity and APC government.”
He noted that the event was unique and in line with “Mr. President’s vision and mandate towards the universal and global strides which Nigerian government has full responsibility as indicated in universal health coverage which are equity in health access, quality health services and reduction in the cost of healthcare to the ordinary citizen.”
In a welcome address, the Imo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Prosper Ohayagha-Success said that “scaling-up the health Insurance programme with access to care is pivotal to the attainment of the Universal Health Coverage goals.”
On behalf of his Ministry, he thanked the Governor for being the first to transform the health insurance landscape and personally launched the largest access to healthcare activation towards achieving the universal health coverage in Imo State.
In her address, Rev. Sr. Maria-Jonnes Uzoma, Executive Secretary, Imo State Primary Health Care Development Agency also thanked Governor Uzodimma for his support to the basic health insurance and health interventions towards the achievement of universal health coverage in Imo State.
She explained: “The primary purpose of Health Insurance Scheme is to ensure adequate healthcare and sustainable funding, sufficiently and effectively to guarantee quality healthcare services for the protection and access to healthcare services for all imolites, particularly the poor and the vulnerable.”
In his goodwill message, the representative of WHO, Dr. Francis Ukwuije appreciated the Governor for the priority he accords the health sector in Imo State through renovation of Primary Healthcare Centres and General Hospitals, provision of mobile health clinics and recruitment of over 80 midwives in Imo State.
“This is in addition to payment of counterpart funds, funding of State medical stores and sponsorship of Imo Medical Missions in the 3R administration.”
Ukwuije mentioned that over 47,000 Civil Servants will be enrolled in the Imo Health Insurance Scheme which will be added to the over 66,003 vulnerable groups already in the scheme.
In his appreciation on behalf of staff and management of Imo State Health Insurance Agency, the Executive Secretary/CEO, Dr. Uchenna Ewelike expressed their gratitude to Mr. President, the Governor, the Ministers of Health and his Committee members for the successes recorded in launching the programme and making it come true.
He expressed their appreciation to the technical working group of Imo-Care, the WHO, the Country Representative, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, the OICs, and other Development Partners and promised that as an agency his team is committed and focused on its mandate.
He added that, “with the strong political will provided by the Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma,” they will achieve the health system objectives and reach their set target.