By Edward Oseghe
The Edo State office of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) on Tuesday, July 29, held a one-day stakeholders’ forum themed “Charting a New Frontier with Health Insurance” at the John Odigie-Oyegun Public Service Academy, Benin City.
The forum, which drew over 150 participants across the health insurance ecosystem, focused on recent developments, sectoral challenges, and strategies to improve health insurance coverage in the state.
In his welcome address, NHIA South-South Zonal Director, Chief Obaro Ologbo, set the tone for the discussions. Goodwill messages were delivered by the Edo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Adams Oshiomhole, represented by Permanent Secretary Dr. Stanley Ehiarimwian, and the Chairman, House Committee on Health, Edo State House of Assembly, Dr. Richard Edosa. Both reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding health insurance and achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Other key attendees included Director-General of the Edo State Health Insurance Commission (EDSHIC), Dr. Augusta Ikpea-Enaholo; Executive Secretary of the Edo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (EDSPHCDA), Dr. Coulson Osoikhai Oahimire; and other sector leaders.
The technical session featured four presentations on:
*Charting a New Frontier with Health Insurance
*BHCPF: Progress So Far
*NHIA Operational Modalities
*One-Hour Mandate for Code Issuance
A subsequent interactive session facilitated robust discussions and the exchange of practical insights. A key outcome of the forum was the formation of a Top Management Stakeholders’ Committee to track implementation of key resolutions.
In his closing remarks, NHIA Edo State Coordinator, Dr. Theodore Osas Ehannire, thanked participants and emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration to strengthen the health insurance system in Edo State.
