PharmAccess Foundation and the Kwara State Government has been in partnership for over a decade, working together to improve access to affordable and quality healthcare. The state sees an increase in the number of people using health services, pointing to an increased trust in the sector.
Dr Nicole Spieker, CEO of PharmAccess Group paid a first visit to the health stakeholders after her appointment as CEO, four months ago. She stressed that the great leadership of His Excellency M.A., AbdulRazak, Governor of Kwara State and the Kwara State government has been key to the achievements of Kwara- PharmAccess partnership. Achievements include the appointment of a Quality team at the Ministry of Health and the Kwara Health Insurance Agency, quality improvement plans and implementations at public facilities and public-private partnerships to drive better quality care.
Giving her remarks, the Country Director of PharmAccess Nigeria, Mrs. Njide Ndili stated that the various successful initiatives carried out in the state proves the importance of public-private partnership in building Nigeria’s health sector. She also urged other stakeholders to join hands together to give the poor and less privileged quality health insurance.
Spieker visited other key health stakeholders including the Secretary of the Kwara State Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Bunmi Jetawo-Winter and The Emir of Shonga, HRH Alhaji Haliru Yahaya, a medical elder. Dr. Bunmi Jetawo-Winter highlighted the support the agency had received from PharmAccess in mobilizing demand for healthcare, hiring, training and periodic staff training. HRH Alhaji Haliru Yahaya advised on improving health insurance enrollment rates by partnering with civil society leaders. He emphasized his willingness to continue his consultancy.
Other courtesy visits were done to the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Raji Razak, the state House of Assembly Committee Chairman on Health, Hon. Razak Owolabi, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Nusirat Elelu and the Director General, Kwara State Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Sa’ad Aluko.
An advocacy visit was finally made by the PharmAccess team to one of the community development associations that has partnered with the Kwara State health Insurance Agency. The Executives members of Ilorin Emirate Youth Development Association (IEYDA) appreciated PharmAccess’ help to the State and promised to resume mobilizing people to register for the health scheme. The group recognized that reaching Universal Health Coverage can only be achieved with partnerships like this.