Towards enhancing healthcare access at the grassroots level, the Edo State Health Insurance Commission (EDHIC) in partnership with the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDPHCDA) and the Local Government Commission, has convened a three-day strategic meeting with Medical Officers of Health (MOHs) from the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Edo State.
According to the Director General (DG) of EDHIC, Mrs. Augusta Ikpea-Enaholo, the engagement which held from March 25 to March 27, 2025, focused on integrating MOHs, local government administration staff, and other key stakeholders into the operational framework of the Community-Based Health Intervention Programme. Discussions centered on strengthening administrative support for the effective implementation of EDOHIS health plans, fostering stakeholder collaboration, addressing primary healthcare challenges, and developing solutions to enhance effective and efficient service delivery.
Mrs. Ikpea-Enaholo commended the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led administration for prioritising access to quality healthcare. She emphasised that effective collaboration among stakeholders is critical to achieving the government’s vision of extending healthcare services to underserved communities across the State. Acknowledging the challenges within the healthcare system, she encouraged MOHs to voice their concerns openly.
The DG EDHIC stated, “The Government is committed to delivering quality healthcare to the people of Edo State, and you are the key channels through which this promise can be fulfilled. We recognize issues such as manpower shortages and work ethics, but by coming together, we can identify solutions and drive meaningful change”.
In her remarks, Mrs. Ikpea-Enaholo emphasised the importance of continuous dialogue and collaboration among government agencies, healthcare providers, and local authorities to achieve lasting improvements in healthcare delivery. She called for more frequent interactive sessions to ensure that all stakeholders remain aligned in their shared goal of expanding healthcare access.
“We cannot achieve meaningful progress in isolation. These engagements provide a platform to listen, learn, and refine our approach to healthcare delivery. By working together, we can build a system that truly serves every citizen, especially the vulnerable population” she stated.
Mrs. Ikpea-Enaholo reiterated EDHIC’s commitment to fostering strong partnerships and ensuring that the voices of healthcare workers at all levels are heard. The Commission planned to sustain the engagements across the State to reinforce a collective effort toward building a stronger, more efficient healthcare system for the people of Edo State.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sir Lucky Eseigbe, appreciated the MOHs for their dedication as frontline healthcare administrators. He highlighted the session as a crucial step in strengthening primary healthcare delivery and acknowledged existing challenges, including traditional institutional interferences, manpower shortages, and inadequate medical equipment. He assured participants that the State Government is actively working on resolving the identified issues.
“Healthcare is a vital pillar of societal development and your role in ensuring that quality services reach the grassroots cannot be overstated. This engagement serves as a call to action for greater efficiency, accountability, and innovation in Edo’s healthcare sector,” he concluded.
The Executive Secretary of EDPHCDA, Dr. Coulson Oahimire, commended the State Government’s commitment to improving healthcare at the community level. He underscored the importance of continuous engagement sessions to foster collaboration and improve policy implementation.
In his words, “You are the engine room driving healthcare in Edo State. This session provides an opportunity to voice challenges and ensure they are addressed”.
The meeting featured brainstorming sessions, where participants engaged in practical discussions to identify bottlenecks in processes of healthcare service delivery and suggested probable solutions. MOHs shared challenges they face in their respective LGAs, which lectures were tailored to address. The topics included grassroots sensitization/mobilization, enhancing staff training, addressing supply chain gaps for essential drugs, and streamlining data collection for better healthcare planning.
Participants proposed various interventions, such as leveraging technology to improve patient records management, strengthening partnerships with private healthcare providers, and implementing community-driven awareness campaigns to increase enrollment in the EDOHIS health plans. The brainstorming sessions provided an opportunity for peer learning, with some LGAs sharing successful initiatives that could be replicated across the State.
