The Chief Executive Officer of Imo State Health Insurance, Dr Uchenna Ewelike has disclosed that Imo State is on a trajectory for Universal Health Coverage.
The award-winning health insurance expert Dr Uchenna Ewelike made this known ahead of the inauguration ceremony of the reelected governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Dist. Sen. Hope Uzodimma slated 15th January 2024.
Dr Ewelike noted that the Governor of Imo State has set the State on the trajectory for Universal Health Coverage as his administration has provided health insurance coverage to a sizeable poor and vulnerable population through the Imo State Health Insurance Agency.
He further noted that all civil servants of the state both local government workers are currently enjoying health insurance coverage like the federal civil servants in the country.
The attainment of Universal Health Coverage will require a strong political decision and this the Governor of Imo State understands perfectly well as he has provided the technical capacity and political will requisite to attain UHC in the State viz-a-viz the appointment of Dr. Uchenna Ewelike as the Executive Secretary/CEO of Imo State Health Insurance Agency, provision of access to care to over 84,000 underserved population of the state, and ensuring financial risk protection to 37,323 Imo workers.
It is worth noting that Imo State is the only State in the country where the Governor paid health insurance premiums for her State workers to have access to quality healthcare services. The state government under the leadership of Governor Hope Uzodimma has remained committed to the goals of UHC of ensuring that every Imolite regardless of their social or economic status have access to quality healthcare services based on need, not ability to pay.
Dr. Ewelike, the renowned African health economist, has expressed optimism and confidence that Governor Hope Uzodimma’s second term will further deepen the campaign towards the attainment of UHC in Imo as he would ensure more people are pulled out of poverty and more financially protected through the state social health insurance scheme.
It is to be noted that the impact of the implementation of health insurance program remains unparalleled and has shaped the state health system as more people are visiting hospitals without fear of paying huge medical bills from their pockets, primary health centres that were hitherto moribund are now functional and the program implementation has so far recorded over 160,000 hospital visits, 400 referred cases, 800 deliveries in last 9months.