By Stephen Adeleye.
The Kingsley Femi Fanwo (KFF) Foundation has facilitated the enrolment of 120 vulnerable widows into the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency (KGSHIA)’s scheme.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Mopamuro on Wednesday, KKF’s founder, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, said the foundation was collaborating with KGSHIA to enable vulnerable widows in Mopamuro have access to quality healthcare services.
According to Fanwo, the health insurance scheme is an initiative of His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello (GYB) to make quality healthcare services affordable, cheaper and accessible to the vulnerable people at the grassroots.
Fanwo, who doubles as Kogi Commissioner for Information and Communications, stressed that the governor’s initiative in establishing the agency, had made Kogi to be one of first few States that is leading in quality healthcare service delivery across the federation.
“The governor did not only do it, but he has also been encouraging us to go back to the grassroots and procure the enrolment of vulnerable people in our communities into the health insurance scheme.
“I am here doing it for my people,” Fanwo said.
He explained that 60 vulnerable widows had been enrolled in the first phase while additional 60 would be captured in the second phase of the scheme.
He added that the beneficiaries would enjoy quality free healthcare services at the two designated hospitals General Hospital, Mopa, and GYB Health Centre in Takate-Ide, Amuro.
“The first Governor of Kogi State to see through the final establishment of KGSHIA, took bold and decisive action to sign the bill establishing KGHIA into law.
“He ensured strong financial commitment which has facilited the take off of the Agency, and prioritise the attainment of universal health coverage for the good people of Kogi State.
“A governor, who is so determined to eliminate the extra-ordinary hardships associated with huge medical bills experienced by the citizens of Kogi State,” he said.
He, therefore, urged the people to continue to pray and support the governor in his bids to become Nigeria’s President come 2023, so that he could also do it at the national level.
On his part, Dr Adekunle Aledare, the Executive Secretary of KGSHIA, eulogised KFF foundation for the gesture to secure quality healthcare services for the vulnerable widows in Mopamuro.
Aledare also commended the Governor for his magnanimity in establishing the health insurance agency for the benefit of the people of the state particularly the vulnerable.
“We thank His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, for his proactiveness and for being health friendly governor that is concerned with healthcare services of the people of Kogi State,” he said.
He noted that the agency had completed enrollment of a total of 31, 491 vulnerable persons in 239 wards across the 21 local government areas of the state.
He stressed that the health insurance scheme would provide free quality healthcare services for the beneficiaries from primary to tertiary level,
The executive secretary added that the beneficiaries would free healthcare services, but would only pay 10 per cent of the total cost of administered drugs.
He enjoined other well meaning spirited individuals, groups and organisations to partner with the agency in enrolling more vulnerable people into the scheme.
According to Aledare, the subscription fee for the health insurance scheme per person yearly is N15, 000.
Earlier, in her welcome address, Mrs Bukola Obajemu, Vice Chairman Mopamuro Local Government Area, thanked KKF foundation for its magnanimity towards the people at the grassroots.
She commended the Commissioner and his wife for the love they had for the local government, saying, “today’s program is a rare privilege for our widows saying health is wealth”.
She urged the people to continue to offer prayer for the Commissioner and the Governor, and assured the governor of the total support of the people of Mopamuro.
One of the widows, Rachael Kolawole, thanked the Governor for establishing the health insurance agency, and appreciated KFF foundation for securing their enrollment.
Fanwo thereafter paid a courtesy visit to the palace of Alamuro of Amuro, HRH Oba Alfred Modupe Aiyedogbon, to congratulate him on the upgrade of his throne to first class stool.
He congratulated the royal father on his enthronement, saying they had appreciated the governor for the gesture toward the people of Amuro land.
In his response, the traditional ruler, thanked the governor for his love towards the people of Amuro land and for upgrading the Alamuro stool, making him the first traditional ruler to be crowned first class oba as Alamuro of Amuro.
The monarch thank God that Amuro people was getting liberated gradually and were beginning to enjoy the dividends of democracy, traditionally, politically and other wise.
He further appreciated God on behalf of the Commissioner, saying, ”you are building people and we are happy about it, and God is behind you and will reward you for it.
“I advise you not to relent in the good you are doing because we are all proud of you”.
The royal father also commended the governor for doing tremendously well in area of security in the state, and prayed that the governor would become the president of Nigeria because God is behind him.
