Olarinde Idowu
Edo State Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, has facilitated a health insurance initiative aimed at providing medical coverage for about 4,000 residents of Ovia South-West and Ovia North-East Local Government Areas of the state.
The programme, implemented through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), is designed to improve access to quality healthcare services and reduce the financial pressure associated with medical expenses.
According to a statement by the Deputy Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Friday Aghedo, the initiative was conceived during Idahosa’s tenure as the lawmaker representing Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Aghedo disclosed that more than 2,000 residents have already been enrolled, with an additional batch expected to increase the number of beneficiaries to 4,000.
The NHIA insurance cards were presented to Deputy Governor Idahosa and the current representative of Ovia Federal Constituency, Omosede Gabriella Igbinedion, by the Edo State NHIA Coordinator, Dr Theodore Ehannire, during an event in Benin.
Speaking at the presentation, Idahosa said the initiative was part of efforts to ensure that residents can access healthcare services without being discouraged by the cost of treatment.
He noted that effective leadership must go beyond infrastructure development by investing in programmes that directly improve the welfare and well-being of citizens.
“This intervention is aimed at ensuring that our people have access to quality healthcare without the financial burden that often prevents many from seeking timely medical attention,” Idahosa said.
The NHIA State Coordinator, Dr Ehannire, explained that the first set of beneficiaries had been fully registered and their cards activated for use at accredited healthcare facilities across Edo State.
He added that all required medical payments under the scheme had been settled, allowing beneficiaries to receive covered healthcare services without paying directly at the point of treatment.
According to him, the package includes medical consultations, treatments, minor surgical procedures and maternal healthcare services, including safe delivery for pregnant women.
Ehannire commended Idahosa for supporting an initiative that prioritises healthcare access, describing it as a significant step towards improving the health outcomes of residents in the benefiting communities.
Also speaking, Igbinedion described the programme as a people-focused intervention that would positively impact the lives of constituents.
She stressed that the success of governance should not only be measured by physical projects but also by policies and initiatives that improve the everyday lives of citizens.
The distribution of NHIA cards to beneficiaries is expected to commence soon, giving thousands of residents access to affordable healthcare services through accredited medical providers across Edo State.
