From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Mrs. Augusta Ikpea Enaholo is Director General, Edo State Health Insurance Commission (EDHIC). She spoke with Daily Sun in Abuja recently.
Excerpts:
What does it mean to win the Best Health Insurance and Managed Care Government Agency in Health Care Coordination and Management Award?
It means a lot to us. It is an indication that we are doing well. But first thing first, I want to thank His Excellency, the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for his unwavering support and belief in the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Also, we thank the Institute for Health Insurance and Managed Care of Nigeria (IHIMN) for recognition. At this time, there’s a lot of issues that the Edo State Health Insurance have been able to cover in such a short time, and I believe with this award, it has shown that even the world is seeing what we are doing, and it is even an avenue for us to even do more and do better. And this means a lot to Edo State, I can tell you that.
What are the secrets that earned you the award?
Collaboration! We do a lot of collaboration with relevant individuals and organisations. This is very important to us because one person cannot have all the information or expertise. So, we look at what other states are doing, we speak to them, we find out what has worked, because every state has its own uniqueness and Edo State is also very unique in its form. We have a lot of young people in the state, and we have a low rate of old/elerstates people. So, in that kind of demography, it’s very difficult to sell this insurance to them. But we are learning every day, and we strengthen our collaboration. So, that is one thing that I would also appeal to other states to do, to be able to achieve this universal health coverage for the federation.
What are the strategies you adopted to convince Edo people to buy into the health insurance?
In insurance, including health insurance, the more the merrier. Convincing the people to buy health insurance is always difficult, but we are trying our best. First, we try to make the people understand the importance of health insurance. Undoubtedly, health is wealth. Someone could sleep at night peacefully and wake up in the morning with a different health condition. Nobody knows what’s going to happen the next minute. So, it’s important that you are covered at any stage in life, young, old, even a child. It’s very important that everybody is covered so that anything that happens is being sorted out, health wise.
How affordable is the premium?
Very affordable! With a little premium, you can access quality health care delivery. The government also has some measures to assist the get health care services. So, all they need to do is just enrol, and then they can be attended to at any PHC that has been accredited for that purpose. Health insurance has a lot to do with finances, hence it’s important that one covers his family for their health care services so that one is not found wanting where, as a mother or as a father, you cannot take care of your child’s health care issues because you don’t have finances.
What are the challenges you face?
Funding! So, the more people are enrolled, the more funds are available in the pool to offer those services. To get people to enrol is a huge financial challenge. And I think with proper funding. If we get our Primary Health Care (PHCs) properly renovated and well equipped, this will make health care service even easier and more accessible for the people.
In what ways can people support government to provide better health care services?
Well, not necessarily for their own benefit, but the citizens that especially cannot afford good health care service. So, what we do is we try to get philanthropists to come in and pay premium for a political district or ward. He or she could cater for as many people as he or she to be able to give them quality health care for one year. So, we have those kind of package as well and it’s something that a lot of we have bought into, and I also encourage other states to have that opportunity where philanthropists that are willing could go to their wards and enroll about 100 people for this ward to ensure they have this kind of health care facility for one year. And then by the time they see the progress and they see how well the people take it, it will encourage them, and it will encourage the government as well.
What’s your enrollment figure before and what do you have now?
When the administration came in November 2024, the health insurance enrollment was roughly around 200,000 people. But as of April 2025, we are over 300,000 and growing every day.
What are your projections?
I am hopeful that with the pace at which we are going right now, I think we will be able to make a million enrollees.
Your message to Edo people on this health insurance scheme?
Edo people need you to come on board with us. They need to understand that health is wealth, and it’s very important to understand this and buy into it. It’s for your own good, it’s for the good of your family, and it’s for the good of your mother, for your father, for your children. Buy into it with very little premium. The governor is doing his best to give free health care, but you also need to come in and buy into a few of our premiums, and then everything will be taken care of.