The Kwara State Health Insurance Agency (KW-HIA) has sensitised residents of Afon and other communities in Asa Local Government Area on the benefits of enrolling in the state's health insurance scheme.

The outreach programme, held on Wednesday, was attended by community chiefs, religious leaders, members of the Artisan Congress, and representatives of vulnerable groups.

It forms part of the AbdulRazaq administration's broader strategy to expand access to quality and affordable healthcare under the EU-SARAH initiative.

Kwara is one of three Nigerian states partnering with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to strengthen health service delivery. The initiative is supported by €40 million in technical funding aimed at improving access to reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health services across the country.

Officials say the sensitisation drives are critical to achieving universal health coverage and ensuring no resident is denied medical care due to financial constraints.

Speaking at the interactive session in Afon, Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr. Olubunmi Jetawo-Winter, urged all Kwarans, particularly the vulnerable ones, to take advantage of the scheme to improve their health conditions.

Describing social health insurance as the most sustainable financing mechanism for equitable healthcare access, Dr Jetawo-Winter said the initiative also seeks to bridge the socioeconomic divides, improve service quality, and enhance affordability, among other benefits.

"Today's programme is supported by the European Union in collaboration with UNICEF and UNPA. It is aimed at strengthening access to representative, reproductive, and maternal health.

"It is targeted at rural young women, pregnant women, children under 5 that are somewhat marginalised from having access to proper healthcare services." she said

She commended the state government for taking a bold step with the renovation and equipping of many medical facilities in the hinterlands, saying this greatly resolved issues around infrastructure.

"Under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, different medical facilities even in the rural areas are being renovated, equipped, and staffed. This is commendable, as it also makes our job easier. We are just dealing with how to make the facilities more available for use," she said.

"The EU-SARAH has come up with this programme especially for young women, who are likely to be ignored or marginalised, to get medical attention such as maternal care, treatment for chronic illness like high blood pressure, diabetes, eye care, and dental care, among other sicknesses which people experience on a daily basis."

Dr Jetawo-Winter restated the commitment of her Agency to its core mandate of achieving universal health coverage.

At the event were; Daudu Afon, Alhaji Kola Balogun; representatives of Muslim Community, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), farmers association, Artisan Congress, and market women, among other stakeholders.

In their separate remarks, Chief Imam of Reke Community (Asa), Mallam Muhammad Musemil Adewale; representative of CAN, Pastor Christopher Britus, and Mojiobaje Awotola, who represented the traditional worshippers, described the programme as a welcome development.

They promised to complement the Agency on its sensitisation campaign across their respective localities.

Besides, the session featured testimonials by some enrollees, such as Mrs. Babatunde Shukurah and Mrs. Toheeb Rukayat, who expressed their gratitude and satisfaction with the service of their healthcare providers.