The lawmaker representing Oredo West Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Edosa Richards, has restated his unwavering dedication to improving healthcare services for his constituents and residents across the state.
Hon. Richards, who also chairs the House Committee on Health, disclosed that he facilitated the establishment of two new primary healthcare centers located at New Era College and EDPA Ward 7. He added that he personally monitors the operations of these centers to ensure they remain functional and provide essential medical services consistently.
In an exclusive interview with Vines FM correspondent, Jumoke Ariyo, the lawmaker revealed that he recently embarked on inspection visits to primary healthcare centers in Ikpoba-Okha and Egor local government areas to assess service delivery and identify gaps requiring urgent attention.
Emphasizing the importance of accessible and affordable healthcare, Hon. Richards advocated for expanded health insurance coverage. He stressed that subsidizing healthcare through insurance schemes is crucial in easing the financial burden on low- and middle-income families.
According to him, the issue of broadening insurance access was a central topic during a recent stakeholders’ meeting organized by the Nigerian Health Insurance Agency. The event convened key stakeholders, including representatives from Irrua Specialist Hospital, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), private hospitals, independent practitioners, EDOHIS, the National Insurance Agency, and the Edo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole.
Discussions at the meeting focused on the challenges in the health sector and strategies to improve service delivery across the state. Hon. Richards also highlighted the existence of special healthcare programs for pregnant women, noting with concern that public awareness of these services remains alarmingly low.
He further raised alarm over the ongoing “Japa” trend — the mass migration of skilled professionals abroad — which, he said, has significantly reduced the workforce in Nigeria’s healthcare sector. This, coupled with the unwillingness of remaining professionals to serve in rural communities, continues to worsen the healthcare gap in underserved areas.
Hon. Richards reaffirmed the commitment of the House Committee on Health to working with stakeholders to address these issues and improve health outcomes across Edo State.
