By Edebor Esther
The Edo State Health Insurance Scheme (EdoHIS), in partnership with the Edo State Ministry of Health, the Edo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, the Edo State Sports Commission, the World Health Organisation (WHO), Marie Stopes Nigeria, Gym Starllion, and with the support of Olivia Waters and EDOHIS health facilities has held the sixth edition of GETFIT with EDOHIS’ for the first quarter of the year 2023. The event, which was held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, offered remedy for all-round health packages as blood pressure, blood sugar, and vital signs of attendees were tested on arrival.
Dr. Rock Amegor, Director General of EDHIC, said, “We are telling people that preventive medicine is better than therapeutic medicine and treatment. People should take their health into their own hands, exercise regularly, make lifestyle modifications, and in doing that, you live a quality life to its full potential.”
In his words, Dr. Amegor stated, “Governor Obaseki will be remembered for what he has contributed to the healthcare sector even after he has left office.” He applauded Governor Godwin Obaseki’s dedication to making quality healthcare accessible and affordable to all Edo people and residents, especially the most vulnerable in the state.
Speaking on private sector partnership in the scheme, Dr. Amegor said that “Governor Obaseki is keen on public-private partnership in all sectors, including the health sector.” “Unlike what other states are doing in health insurance, which is using mostly government hospitals, with the encouragement of the governor, we have about 68 private healthcare providers out of 220 facilities providing healthcare under the scheme, and we intend to increase that number.”
“We want to make the market competitive so that public and private hospitals can provide healthcare services as long as the quality of care is accessible and affordable.” “What the health insurance industry is doing is providing an enabling environment for public and private hospitals to come in so that when there is healthy competition, the Edo people will be the ones to have the most benefit from this healthcare service provision,” the DG added.
In line with this edition’s theme of “Sexual Health,” there was a talk on sexual health promotion and education by Dr. Onyinye Obuagbaka of Marie Stopes Nigeria.
There was also a sensitization and enlightenment of the participants on the various packages of the Edo Health Insurance Scheme (EDOHIS), including the individual health plans comprising the equity, student, bronze, silver, gold, and platinum plans with varying costs, as well as the family plan, which provides a 5% discount on any health plan for a family of four or more.
On her part, Omonigho Trinitas, head of public relations, advocacy, and communication for EDOHIS, stated, “The Gefit with EDOHIS is a programme that the commission has come up with to improve the health and healthy lifestyle of our residents and enrollees in the scheme.” “The EDOHIS is not just about treating our sick enrollees; it’s also about improving their health, healthy lifestyle, and medical conditions in general.” That is why we offer free medical health talks on healthy lifestyles to improve them.
Some partner hospitals had medical professionals and ambulances on the ground to provide complete medical attention in the case of an emergency. There was also free eye and dental screening provided by specialized physicians.
Osahon Aiworo, one of the attendees, appreciated the insurance scheme for the initiative, which he said gave him the opportunity to have his medical check done.
