Kogi Health Insurance: Ododo Gives Free Coverage to Orphans »

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has provided free health insurance coverage for children at the Ekundayo Orphanage Home in Isanlu, Yagba East Local Government Area, through the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency (KGSHIA).

The intervention will enable the children to access healthcare services without the immediate burden of paying out-of-pocket for treatment, with coverage extending across primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare services, subject to appropriate referral pathways.

The development was formally communicated to the management of the orphanage when the Executive Secretary of KGSHIA, Dr Adekunle Aledare, visited the Home alongside the Permanent Member II of the Agency, Hon. Abraham Jacob, and the Head of Account and Finance, Elder Clement Otitolaiye.

Aledare said the initiative was part of the state government’s efforts to ensure that vulnerable and underserved residents are not excluded from healthcare because of financial constraints.

He disclosed that Governor Ododo had directed the Agency to enrol all recognised and duly registered orphanage homes in Kogi State into the state health insurance programme at no cost to the beneficiaries.

According to him, the policy is intended to strengthen financial risk protection and advance universal health coverage by ensuring that children in institutional care can access medically necessary services when required.

Aledare said health insurance could help reduce catastrophic out-of-pocket expenditure, particularly for vulnerable households and institutions caring for children who may require unexpected medical attention.

“With health insurance coverage, no one is expected to avoid or delay appropriate medical care because of lack of funds. It is our mandate at KGSHIA to ensure that out-of-pocket expenditure is reduced to the barest minimum for residents of Kogi State, particularly those enrolled under the State health insurance programme,” he said.

The KGSHIA executive secretary noted that the enrolment of orphanages was not a new initiative, explaining that the Agency had previously begun the systematic enrolment of recognised and registered orphanage homes in Lokoja before expanding the exercise to other local government areas.

He said the inclusion of Ekundayo Orphanage Home represented another step towards ensuring that orphanhood, vulnerability or financial limitations do not prevent children from accessing quality healthcare.

Aledare assured the management of the Home that the children would have access to healthcare within the scope of their insurance coverage, including referrals where their medical conditions require treatment beyond the capacity of primary or secondary healthcare facilities.

Receiving the intervention on behalf of the children and management, the caregiver and Director-in-Charge of the Home, Mrs Grace Olusegun Cole, described the development as a “prayer answered”.

Cole said the cost of healthcare had been a significant challenge for the Home, particularly during medical emergencies when treatment was required immediately.

She explained that expenses associated with consultations, investigations, medications and other medical interventions often placed considerable pressure on the resources available for the children’s care.

“This is truly a prayer answered. We are deeply grateful to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, through KGSHIA, for remembering these children and coming to our aid,” she said.

“Healthcare has been very expensive for us, particularly when emergencies arise. Sometimes, the financial burden can be very heavy. But with this opportunity, we can now breathe a sigh of relief and remain assured that access to quality and equitable healthcare services is available to the children without the limitations we have experienced before.”

Cole also appreciated the KGSHIA delegation for taking the programme directly to the Home, saying the intervention would improve the children’s access to timely and appropriate healthcare while reducing the financial uncertainty associated with medical treatment.

The intervention forms part of KGSHIA’s efforts to expand health insurance coverage in Kogi State, particularly among vulnerable populations, including children in recognised and registered orphanage homes.

The Agency said the enrolment drive would continue across the state and encouraged recognised and registered orphanage homes yet to be enrolled to take advantage of the state government’s commitment to inclusive health insurance coverage.