BY JUMAI NWACHUKWU
THE Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC) has commended the state government and the House Committee on Health for their unwavering support and oversight, which have bolstered the commission’s efforts to provide equitable healthcare for all residents.
Speaking during the presentation of the 2025 proposed budget, the Director-General of the Commission Dr. Isaac Akpoveta underscored the pivotal role of government backing in driving the state toward universal health coverage (UHC).
Dr. Akpoveta highlighted the Commission’s commitment to inclusivity, noting that its health insurance scheme ensures that access to healthcare is not determined by financial capacity. “Our guiding principle is ‘Take everybody along.’ Unlike conventional healthcare systems, our scheme guarantees access even to those with little or no money,” he stated, emphasizing the essence of UHC. However, the 2024 budget performance was described as suboptimal, largely due to the inability to access equity funds, which are critical for premium funding. This shortfall has forced the Commission to rely solely on contributions from the formal and informal sectors to sustain its programmes, including free maternal and under-five healthcare initiatives that have earned both national and international acclaim. According to Akpoveta, the proposed 2025 budget seeks to address these challenges through strategic priorities designed to enhance enrolment, improve service delivery, and strengthen payments to healthcare facilities.
Dr. Akpoveta reiterated his appeal to the House Committee on Health to advocate for the release of equity funds, mandated by law to constitute 0.5% of the state budget. “Out of an expected ₦19 billion, we have only received ₦4 billion over the last three years,” he noted, stressing the urgent need for top-level government intervention to sustain the equity programmes.
The Director-General said the Commission’s vision for 2025 is centered on achieving universal health coverage, ensuring that no resident of Delta State is left behind, as he assured stakeholders of the Commission’s readiness to address any questions regarding the proposed budget and expressed optimism that with the necessary support, the state’s health insurance scheme would continue to thrive. In his remarks during the budget defense, the Chairman of the Health Committee, Chief Ferguson Onwo, praised the DSCHC for their dedication to tackling healthcare challenges through their informal program, which costs only 7,000, as well as their equity plan designed to support pregnant women and children under five for free.
“I must commend them for a job Well done and ensuring that everyone has access to affordable healthcare for just a token amount, something rarely seen elsewhere. We want to ensure that more people benefit from this initiative, and we must work to sustain and maintain the program so that both the rich and the poor can benefit,” he said. He said.
