Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo has restated his administration’s willingness to improve health care delivery in the state, noting that health care is one of his government’s foci.

Governor Obaseki in a friendly handshake with the General Manager of NHIS South-South Zonal office, Dr Akingbade Olufemi. 

This was as he received the management of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) South-South Zonal Office on a courtesy visit at the Edo State Government House on Thursday, where he declared his administration’s health care goals for the state and policies to help achieve the goals.

He said: “We have decided to domesticate the National Health Act to improve accessibility of health care services for all in the state. We will also develop a health masterplan, which will incorporate the resolutions made in our recent health workshop”.

In addition, Governor Obaseki revealed that his administration would also revitalise Primary Health Care (PHC) centres in the states.

He noted that having functional PHC centres would reduce diseases, as it was germane to the health care system.

On health insurance, he revealed that the government does not have the resources to do so fully, after which he called on NHIS to work with the state in repositioning its health care system. 

Meanwhile, the General Manager of NHIS South-South Zonal office, Dr Akingbade Olufemi commended the governor for prioritising health care among his agenda for the state, noting that the state’s investment in health care would guarantee healthy people, who would be able to take up the over 200,000 jobs promised by the present administration.

He added that the state government should find a way to make health care compulsory and revitalise the primary health care system in the state.

When this was done, he concluded, the government would be able to take care of the 3.4 million people in the state.