Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State has approved a monthly allowance of N300,000 for medical doctors working in state-owned hospitals and other health facilities.
He announced the new incentive in Lokoja on Monday.
However, only medical personnel working in the rural areas will benefit from the new allowance package.
The Governor disclosed at the launch of access to health care for 76,000 beneficiaries of local government workers, state civil servants, pensioners, and students of the tertiary institution health insurance program held at the Lugard House.
Breakdown of the beneficiaries includes 28,056 Enrollees under the public sector plan for local government civil servants, 3,427 enrollees under the pensioners contributory health insurance plan, and 44,760 students under the tertiary institution health insurance program.
Ododo said the additional remuneration has become necessary to discourage the mass exodus of medical doctors to other countries of the globe in search of greener pastures.
He expressed concern over the alarming rate of brain drain of medical personnel generally in the wake of poor salaries and welfare packages currently being experienced in Nigeria.
Governor Ododo vowed that his administration is ready to tackle the problem headlong.
“The Japa syndrome is seriously affecting negatively our health service delivery, and my administration would not relent in stopping the development through the provision of necessary comfort for our medical personnel to function effectively,” Ododo assured
The Governor, during the flag-off, also gave an assurance that his administration would not relent in providing opportunities that would guarantee citizens’ access to quality healthcare.
He said that Kogi is proud to join the global health insurance scheme to protect the health of the poor and admonished citizens to avail themselves of the opportunity by registering now as individuals, families, and groups with Kogi State Health Insurance Agency.
Governor Ododo further announced that “Pensioners earning below N50,000 would enjoy free health insurance, those receiving above N50,00 monthly will contribute N6.50, and those earning N100,000 and above will make an insurance contribution of N1,250.00 to ease their burden.
He directed all members of the State Executive Council to adopt enrollment of 50 persons each into the health insurance, Special Advisers and Chief Executive Officers of Agencies, also to adopt enrollment of 20 people each, and Senior Special Assistants, five.
The Governor equally directed the Executive Secretary of the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency to compile a list of compliance and forward it to him within three months.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of the State Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Aledare Adekunle, had commended the establishment of the scheme by the immediate past Governor Yahaya Bello and its sustenance by the incumbent Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
He said that the scheme would no doubt go a long way in reducing life expectancy and premature deaths.
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, who spoke through his North Central Coordinator, Adamu Abdullahi, at the event, commended Ododo’s Leadership initiative and policy to key into the global health insurance scheme
The Director-General said that the effort would certainly ensure that healthcare services are achievable in Nigeria
“Government intervention in the area of healthcare services is highly desirable and a welcome development that would raise the health standard of citizens
“Our concern is the sustainability of the scheme through technical support and policy direction by government at all levels.”
The Kogi State Commissioner of Health, Dr Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, in his speech, hailed Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s political commitment to achieve the universal health coverage in all parts of the state
“We are fortunate to have Ododo, who has given topmost priority to health,” the commissioner affirmed,” he said.
The highlight of the event is the commissioning of two additional Toyota Hilux Operational vehicles.
(Vital News)
