Kwara State Government Commits N200M To New Health Insurance Agency

The Kwara State Government has committed an initial N200M take-off grant for the new Kwara State Health Insurance Agency Law.

The State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed made this known when he signed the bill into law at the Government House, Ilorin on Tuesday.

Governor Ahmed said the establishment of the Kwara State Health Insurance Agency is part of the State Government’s commitment to Human Capital Development, which he noted has quality healthcare service and functional education as main components.

He disclosed that the Agency is saddled with the provision of qualitative, affordable and accessible healthcare delivery for all categories of people in Kwara.

He added that apart from the N200M grant from the State government, the scheme will be funded with one percent of the State’s consolidated revenue fund, grants from donor agencies like the World Bank and PharmAccess, premium to be paid by beneficiaries and other funds that may accrue to the Agency from time to time.

Alhaji Ahmed said that the insurance bill will build on the existing Community Health Insurance Scheme which covers 10 local government areas of the State to provide a state-wide health care service and will cater for separate categories of Kwarans and residents based on means testing.

He, therefore, expressed optimism the agency will outlive the present administration and will be sustainably used to develop healthcare service in the State beyond existing levels.

Addressing journalists after the brief ceremony, a member of the Implementation Committee, Dr Bunmi Jatawo Winters said the committee would stage an advocacy week before the scheme takes off, during which the committee members will sensitise the public about the operations of the scheme.

Kwara State was created on 27 May 1967, when the Federal Military Government of General Yakubu Gowon broke the four regions that then constituted the Federation of Nigeria into 12 states. At its creation, the state was made up of the former Ilorin and Kabba provinces of the then Northern Region and was initially named the West Central State but later changed to “Kwara”, a local name for the River Niger.

Kwara State has since 1976 reduced considerably in size as a result of further state creation exercises in Nigeria. On 13 February 1976, the Idah/Dekina part of the state was carved out and merged with a part of the then Benue/Plateau State to form Benue State.

On 27 August 1991, five local government areas, namely Oyi, Yagba, Okene, Okehi and Kogi were also excised to form part of the new Kogi State, while a sixth, Borgu Local Government Area, was merged with Niger State.