Obaseki Approves Free Health Insurance for Edo Pensioners, Vigilante Operatives

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has approved the provision of free health insurance for pensioners in the state to cater to the health needs of the senior citizens.

The Director General of the Edo State Health Insurance Commission, Dr. Rock Amegor said the free health insurance service will also cover operatives of the State’s Security Vigilante Network.

Amegor, who disclosed this while briefing journalists in Benin City, said the government was committed to ensuring quality and affordable healthcare delivery, noting that the service will mitigate out-of-pocket spending for the beneficiaries and facilitate the attainment of Universal Health Coverage for all residents.

Hailing the governor as a pacesetter, Amegor said the government has set out N1 billion to cover the free health insurance service to the pensioners and vigilantes, among others.

 “As part of the government’s initiative for Universal Health Coverage for citizens of the State, Edo State Government led by Governor Godwin Obaseki has decided to cover pensioners across the 18 local government areas of the State free of charge.

This initiative has been borne out of the economic downturn as pensioners who have served us should not worry about paying out-of-pocket when they get to the health care facilities as it brings stability to the pensioners.

“The service covered is a robust medical care that can take care of about 70 to 80 per cent of all medical challenges expected at one point in our lives and the services include medical, eye care and dental care amongst other care,” he said.

He added: “The government of Obaseki has been digitalised and most of our information from September 1 are now in our electronic system and we are lifting all the over 11,000 details we have gotten from our ICT and will verify those who are alive, relocated, those who need to update their profile.

“After this, in the first quarter of next year, we will reach out to pensioners and allocate facilities closest to their houses.  We need to scrutinise the details as service has started for over 200,000 enrolees. So, to on-board the 12,000 pensioners into the scheme will not be difficult for us.”

Meanwhile, Obaseki, has said that with the development of a tier 4 data centre in the state and other interventions in the technology sector, the state is now well positioned to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve government processes and facilitate service delivery to Edo people.

Speaking to journalists in Benin City, Obaseki said the government will explore every opportunity to expand the State’s technology space in the state to spur more investment in Edo’s economy.

“In the outgoing year, Edo State Government went fully digital, simplifying work processes and assuring better services for investors and other key stakeholders in government, setting the pace in Nigeria as the first government entity to go full-paperless.

“We are proud to have set this record and are determined to sustain the gains made so far. We expect that with the investment made in building a tier 4 data centre and other interventions, we should be well positioned to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) in governance in the near future.”

He continued: “In 2024, we will continue to expand the technology space in the state. We are currently one of the first States to run a State-owned data centre, which will spur more investment in our State’s economy. We will fortify this infrastructure and also build on the gains made with the establishment of the Edo Tech Park.

“With full transition to paperless government, we will sustain efforts to ensure the security of our infrastructure.”