Edo State Health Care Sector Reforms: A Model for Sustainable Healthcare Improvement

Edo State has implemented significant reforms in its healthcare sector under the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki. These reforms aim to improve the resilience of the health system and enhance responses to health crises and medical deliverables. One of the key focuses has been on primary and secondary healthcare, with efforts to strengthen infrastructure and workforce. The Edo State health sector is striking the right notes as the government and other critical stakeholders undertake various health sector reforms aimed at improving healthcare delivery.

The Edo State Health Improvement Program (EDOHIP) was launched in 2019 with a strategic plan to enhance primary healthcare, provide specialized care, ensure sustainable healthcare financing, and improve the education of the health workforce. As part of this program, 46 Primary Healthcare Centers were rehabilitated, 700 new healthcare workers were recruited, and 2100 workers were trained in core competencies. Additionally, the state has implemented electronic health records and established public-private partnerships to reduce drug stock-outs. Strengthening the primary healthcare system to make it the cornerstone of healthcare delivery, ensuring that basic health services are accessible to all residents. The primary health care system, which is the first of contact as a result of proximity to the people received very significant government presence in terms of infrastructural uplift, service providers, improved medical facilities and equipment, and better welfare packages.

In terms of secondary healthcare, the Edo Specialist Hospital and the new Stella Obasanjo Hospital have been established to provide specialized care and position Edo State as a regional hub for healthcare services, especially in the South-South. It is worthy of mention that upgrading and building new specialized healthcare facilities to ensure better access to quality healthcare services in the state is quite impressive. As of today, the Edo state secondary healthcare system can comfortably carry out some medical procedures that in the past seemed near impossible or difficult to attempt.

To address healthcare financing, the Edo State Health Insurance Scheme (EDOHIS) has been instrumental in insuring 250,000 residents, with a focus on vulnerable populations, thus significantly increasing population coverage. To achieve measurable impacts, the implementation of sustainable healthcare financing models ensures the immediate and direct availability of funds for healthcare services, including exploring health insurance schemes. Most significantly, this scheme is strategically pivoted to develop and sustain better access to healthcare services for state residents through community-based contributory programs. In a bold attempt at health care service inclusivity, the Obaseki led Government in December 2023 approved one billion naira for the provision of free health insurance for pensioners in the state to cater to the health needs of senior citizens.

Efforts in education and training include the rehabilitation and reopening of the Edo State College of Nursing and Midwifery and the College of Health Sciences and Technology, with over 960 students currently enrolled. The government initiated recruitments, training of healthcare providers in line with international best practices, and strategic retention initiatives of healthcare professionals to address shortages and improve health service delivery to residents of the state.

The integration of digital health technologies has created a comprehensive healthcare ecosystem, enabling efficient referral and claims processes and modernizing health records.

It must be explicitly stated that the Public-Private Partnerships intentionally geared towards ncouraging collaborations between the government and private sector to leverage resources and expertise for better healthcare outcomes is yielding the expected positive outcomes. Furthermore, the example, the Edo State Emergency Healthcare Services initiative, funded by an innovation grant from the French Government, aims to enhance emergency response capabilities and will be expanded statewide by the end of 2024. The Edo State Emergency Medical Services is an initiative that aims to provide fast and reliable emergency medical care to the state's citizens, leveraging technology to ensure services reach even the most vulnerable residents of the state, starting in Benin City.

Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturns, Edo State has made significant progress in improving health outcomes, as recognized by the World Health Organization. The state continues to prioritize revitalizing health institutions, enacting relevant laws, and investing in infrastructure to create a patient-centric, integrated healthcare system. Edo State's vision involves strategic partnerships and embracing technological advancements to set new standards in healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

To minimally reduce knotty healthcare and service bureaucracy, the government with relevant stakeholders are harnessing enhanced governance structures and accountability mechanisms to ensure that healthcare delivery is efficient and transparent. Anyone who seeks medical attention is attended to in the most transparent manner in line with international best practices. Where accountability and good governance structures are absent in the health sector, the entire effort may yield little or no result. For emphasis, the Obaseki-led administration continues to improve on the building blocks of all the health policies and reforms in terms of processes, financing, infrastructure, quality of service delivery, procedures, and technology.

"Healthy People, Wealthy Edo!"


Michael Osarunwese is a public health consultant and writes from Benin

https://leaders.ng/2024/08/17/edo-state-health-care-sector-reforms-a-model-for-sustainable-healthcare-improvement/

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Estimated Population Of States 2024N
Lagos 23894678
Kano 16056456
Oyo 15900421
Kaduna 13003542
Ogun 12973593
Borno 10567345
Bauchi 10139532
Ondo 99847367
Anambra 9006321
Katsina 8165754
River 8156543
Jigawa 8007432
Delta 8003126
Adamawa 7665478
Edo 7464378
Osun 7453643
Kwara 7357352
Niger 7006456
Benue 6584645
Enugu 6023463
Kogi 6106734
Plateau 6006427
Imo 6005348
Zamfara 5495673
Kebbi 5374821
Abia 5107635
Ekiti 4967846
Nassarawa 4374421
Akwa ibom 4114635
Sokoto 4045643
Taraba 4045231
Yobe 4038635
Gombe 4053783
Ebonyi 4035732
Cross river 4032567
Bayelsa 4026386
Abuja 3574846

push23:
Estimated Population Of States 2024N
Lagos 23894678
Kano 16056456
Oyo 15900421
Kaduna 13003542
Ogun 12973593
Borno 10567345
Bauchi 10139532
Ondo 99847367
Anambra 9006321
Katsina 8165754
River 8156543
Jigawa 8007432
Delta 8003126
Adamawa 7665478
Edo 7464378
Osun 7453643
Kwara 7357352
Niger 7006456
Benue 6584645
Enugu 6023463
Kogi 6106734
Plateau 6006427
Imo 6005348
Zamfara 5495673
Kebbi 5374821
Abia 5107635
Ekiti 4967846
Nassarawa 4374421
Akwa ibom 4114635
Sokoto 4045643
Taraba 4045231
Yobe 4038635
Gombe 4053783
Ebonyi 4035732
Cross river 4032567
Bayelsa 4026386
Abuja 3574846

The person who created this list need community slapp

F*"king eye service! Obaseki performed below expectations as Governor period. Leave all this talk abeg

Anyone who build such facility are supposed to be using it, not traveling abroad for treatment

Go to Benin city and verify it's there.

Not Oshiomole that borrowed equipments from neighboring states into Central Hospital dir Buhari to commission

Once Buhari left Benin , the equipments were returned and the hospital left like an empty container

Obaseki reforms in all sector is what is driving Oshiomhole crazy.
He finds it difficult to believe that Obaseki will surpass his performances.
The only problem is that Obaseki is not a media freak.

I am not a fan of any politician. But this particular initiative is laudable I must confess.

ojibole:
F*"king eye service! Obaseki performed below expectations as Governor period. Leave all this talk abeg

I beg to disagree with you on this topic.

I'm based in Benin and I can tell you there's a lot of improvement in the health and education sector since Obaseki came in. I had my kids in a private hospital. My family and I have to abandon the private hospital for a "Health centre" .

Under Obaseki he renovated and equiped the health centers, you won't even believe you are in a government hospital when you enter the place.

Talking about education: people are also leaving private schools to enroll their children in public schools. A lot of transformations truly happened overnight.

Mind you I'm not into politics, neither am I campaigning for any party. I'm enjoying these facilities almost free of charge! Mind you I'm not from Edo state and nobody ever asks "where are you from".

As for my state Delta...................... hmmmm they come to Edo for tutorials