Health Insurance Agency Kickoff: Onofiok Advocates Enrolment Of Beneficiaries

The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Barr Onofiok Luke says the few challenges experienced in the implementation of the State Governments Free Basic Health Care policy for pregnant women, children and the Aged will be solved when the State Health Insurance Scheme is assented to by the state Governor.

Speaking at the House of Assembly Complex when he received officials of the State Pilot Community Based Health Insurance (CBHI), Primary Health Center, Ukana Ikot Ideh, Essien Udim LGA, Barr Luke said stakeholders can share in the responsibility of Health Financing in their various communities while waiting for the take off of the State Health Insurance Agency.

The Speaker who acknowledged the support of USAID to health programmes in the state, encouraged the officials of the NHIS to assist the Government in the areas of enrollment of beneficiaries to
ensure the smooth take off of the State Health Insurance Agency already provided for in the budget.

Earlier, the leader of the Delegation, Chief Michael Akpabio and the coordinator of NHIS Emmanuel Ononokpono said there was an urgent need for affordable and quality healthcare to reduce the financial burden of Health Care services on the rural populace, through the implementation of the State Health Insurance Bill awaiting assent by the Governor.

The establishment of the Agency the duo agreed, would also ensure that Akwa Ibom State benefits from the Basic Healthcare Provision fund, currently being drawn by other states qualified to draw 1% from consolidated funds.

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