Kwara Community Health Insurance Scheme Nominated for Financial Times Award

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
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The Kwara State Community Health Insurance Scheme (CHIS) has been nominated by Pharm Access Foundation, Netherlands, for the 2016 Financial Times/IFC Transformational Business Award.

The scheme was nominated under the “Achievement in Sustainable Development: Maternal and Infant Health” category of the awards.

A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Media and Communications, Dr. Muideen Akorede, said that the award was contained in a letter sent to the state government, which he said was signed by the Director of Advocacy and Programme Development of Pharm Access Foundation, Dr. Kofi Boahene.

According to him, the Kwara Health Insurance Scheme was selected for the prestigious business award after a rigorous review of different programmes that have had transformational impact on the people.

He further noted that the award was a remarkable testimony of the impact of the health scheme on the people of Kwara State as well as a motivation for the efforts of the state government towards finding a long-term financing solution for the programme.

The awards ceremony according to Dr. Boahene will hold on June 9, 2016,
in London.

While reacting, Governor Ahmed expressed delight over the nomination of the state health insurance programme for the awards, and assured that his government will not relent in its efforts to making quality healthcare accessible to the people of the state, especially those in the rural areas.

He said the state government would continue to initiate programmes and policies aimed at increasing efficiency and effectiveness in the healthcare system of the state.

The Governor also commended Pharm Access Foundation for its commitment to ensuring affordable access to quality healthcare in Africa, stimulating investments through partnerships with the private sector and government institutions.

The Kwara State Community Health Insurance allows beneficiaries to have access to quality healthcare all year round, for a token ofN500.

It would be recalled that the health insurance scheme in 2014 in Paris won a finalist prize at the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee awards for development initiative.

Before the awards in 2014, the scheme had also received commendation from the United Nations and Bill Gates Foundation for its creative approach to pro-poor healthcare.