The Akwa Ibom State Government has established a Health Insurance Agency aimed at making healthcare delivery services more accessible and affordable for the residents.
The state also ordered six more ambulances to enhance emergency services and ensure timely responses to health issues across the state.
The state Governor, Pastor Umo Eno gave the order while inaugurating a 15-member Health Insurance Agency Board at the State Exco Chamber, Government House, Uyo on Tuesday.
“One of the ARISE Agenda goals is to produce a healthy and educated workforce in line with the third Sustainable Development Goal, and this explains why we have concentrated our efforts in the provision of healthcare services at the primary level in the rural areas.
“We have already commissioned two of our model primary healthcare centres and others will be commissioned soon.
“These healthcare centres have the most modern facilities and are manned by trained medical personnel.
“We will also provide ambulance service to ensure the treatment of patients in emergency situations.
“Ambulance service is a major element; it is indeed the fulcrum upon which healthcare delivery service revolves around, especially in advanced societies. That is why we are deeply intentional in the provision of this critical service.
“We have placed an order for six ambulances to kick start this exercise, and we will keep increasing the fleet. The essence here is to have an ambulance service that will be available to handle any emergency medical situation that may arise within a few kilometres across the length and breadth of our State.
“The ambulances are not cheap, but we are determined to make them available for our people,” the governor stated.
He also noted that it was agency occasioned by the need to build a robust healthcare delivery system in addition to the well-equipped model health centres and other recent developments in the state’s health sector, adding that on arrival, the ambulances will be strategically stationed for timely response to medical emergencies across the three Senatorial Districts.
Governor Eno also noted that members of the Health Insurance Agency were carefully selected based on professional competence rather than political consideration or affiliation and warned against politicizing issues of healthcare delivery in the state.
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Congratulating the chairman and members of the board, he charged them to hit the ground running as soon as possible as he expects a reduction in certain diseases ravaging the people.
The Governor also hinted that the recruitment of 400 medical personnel and 100 health and safety officers into the State Civil Service were bold steps towards the readiness and willingness of his administration to bring transformation into healthcare needs of the people.
Members of the Board include; Dr. Edikan Ekwere (Chairman), Dr. Arthur Igbemi (Executive Secretary/Secretary to Board), Dr. Oku Samuel koiseh, member, and Mr. Andy Eyo, Member.
Others are, Dr. Christie Akwaowo, Dr. Iboro Elijah Udoh, Prof Eyo Ekpe, Namso Marcus, Comrade Sunny James, Comrade Kingsley Ekong, Mrs Magdalene Udom, Directors representing Ministries of Justice, Finance and Department of Establishment, as well as State Coordinator of NHIS.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
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