Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, said his administration has set aside N500 million to commence a health insurance scheme that would cover all civil servants in the state.
Dickson made the disclosure on Wednesday while receiving the report of the state Health Committee in Government House, Yenagoa, saying “this is a project that we are very passionate about and that is the state health insurance policy. I have been informed you have talked about it.”
He said he would soon set up a technical committee to draft legislation that would be drawn from the health committee and also be involved in implementing government programme on health.
Dickson assured of support for the health insurance scheme, saying, “Our people in this state deserve the support of government in terms of health care provisions and particularly they need to know that if they fall ill and do not have money, their government has a programme that will come to their aid”.
The governor explained that government contribution for the insurance scheme would ensure sustainability of the scheme so that it would not go the way of past schemes.
He disclosed that the state has invested heavily in the health sector by upgrading and building health facilities in all the eight local government areas.
Dickson also expressed government’s desire to ensure the early completion of the 350-bed Chief Melford Okilo General Hospital, Yenagoa, construction of the Diagnostic Centre and upgrading of Diete Koki Memorial Hospital and Government House Clinic.
SAMUEL ESE, Yenagoa
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