The Edo State Government, alongside the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the Federal Ministry of Health, has renewed calls for increased health insurance enrollment, stronger health data systems and sustained investment in the healthcare sector to accelerate the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The call was made during the two-day Edo State Joint Annual Review held at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy in Benin City, where government officials, development partners and healthcare stakeholders reviewed the state’s health sector performance, assessed challenges and outlined strategies to improve service delivery.
Speaking at the event, the Edo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Adams Oshiomhole, described the annual review as a critical platform for accountability, performance evaluation and evidence-based planning. He reiterated the state government’s commitment to working closely with the Federal Government and development partners to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve health outcomes for residents.
Representing the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Technical Assistant at the Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Igbigbi Jacinta, praised Edo State for sustaining the annual review process, noting that it promotes accountability and informed decision making. She also reaffirmed the ministry’s support for the state’s efforts towards achieving universal health coverage.
Development partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), Global Health Supply Chain–Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM), Data.FI and Corona Management Systems, also pledged continued technical assistance to strengthen healthcare services across the state.
The Edo State Health Insurance Commission (EDOHIC) highlighted achievements in expanding health insurance coverage through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, increasing access for vulnerable groups, opening a corporate office in Irrua, introducing a Philanthropist Initiative and adopting digital innovations to improve healthcare delivery.
Despite these gains, the NHIA expressed concern over low health insurance enrolment, inadequate transportation logistics and delays in releasing the State Equity Fund. The agency urged EDOHIC to intensify public awareness campaigns, strengthen stakeholder engagement and broaden insurance coverage across Edo State.
The review also recorded improvements in HIV treatment, tuberculosis diagnosis through expanded GeneXpert services, weekly free screening for hypertension and diabetes, routine immunisation, revitalisation of primary healthcare centres, digital health information management and recruitment of healthcare workers.
Health sector data for the first half of 2026 showed that health facilities recorded 966,803 outpatient visits, 44,891 hospital admissions and 18,962 deliveries, with 95.5 percent of births attended by skilled health workers. In addition, 24,667 people newly adopted family planning services, while 87,963 clients received counselling.
However, stakeholders identified several persistent challenges, including inadequate funding, poor data quality, manpower shortages, weak reporting from secondary health facilities, shortages of essential medical commodities, inflation, limited ICT infrastructure and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases. These, they noted, must be addressed to sustain progress toward universal healthcare in Edo State.
