Kwara State governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, on Friday, inaugurated community-based Health Insurance Scheme (CBHI) in Patigi, Kwara North Local Government Area.

The Commissioner for Health, Mr Issa Kayode, who represented the governor, said the scheme would make healthcare accessible within 500-metre radius in the state.

Ahmed said it was such resolve that propelled his administration to strengthen all levels of health care delivery at primary, secondary and tertiary levels.

“This will ensure that people receive appropriate care at all times.

“CBIH exists between the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the community, of which Patigi is the first to benefit,” he said.

The governor said the state remained open to genuine and committed stakeholders who are ready to complement the efforts of the government in providing qualitative and accessible health care delivery.

Earlier, the acting Executive Director of NHIS, Malam Dogo Mohammed, said the launch was the sixth in the series of pilot CBHI scheme.

He said the NHIS had designed many health insurance programmes to suit the various socio-economic groups in the country.

He stated that the scheme had provided cover to 1.4 million people in the formal sector while more than 1.6 million pregnant women and children under five years, were being covered.