The Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Agency (AKSHIA) says it plans to enroll at least 500,000 people into its health insurance scheme by the end of December 2026.
The agency said that since the scheme started in 2024, about 165,000 residents have already enrolled. It expressed confidence that the target would be met through ongoing programmes and strategies.
Speaking at a press conference in Uyo on Wednesday to mark the 2025 Universal Health Coverage Day, with the theme “Unaffordable Health Costs? We’re Sick of It,” the Chairman of AKSHIA, Dr. Edikan Ekwere, said the agency has taken awareness campaigns to rural communities to encourage more people to enroll.
He added that efforts are ongoing to accredit more hospitals, especially in rural areas, to participate in the scheme.
Dr. Ekwere also said the introduction of the tertiary institutions’ social health insurance programme and other initiatives would help increase the number of enrollees.
He explained that people in the informal sector can also benefit from the scheme by paying an annual premium of ₦18,000. According to him, Governor Umo Eno’s declaration of a state of emergency in the health sector was aimed at ensuring families have access to quality healthcare and are protected from high out-of-pocket medical costs.
“As of today, over 165,000 citizens and residents of Akwa Ibom State have been enrolled in the health insurance scheme, covering formal and informal workers as well as vulnerable groups. While progress has been made, more work is needed to reach our target of over 500,000 enrollees by the end of next year,” he said.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Akwa Ibom State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Eno Attah, described primary healthcare as the foundation of universal health coverage. He noted that primary health centres serve over 80 percent of the population and handle most common illnesses.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of AKSHIA, Dr. Arthur Igbemi, said the scheme does not cover the treatment of some illnesses such as cancer, tuberculosis, HIV, and cosmetic surgeries due to limited funding. However, he said the scheme covers medical tests and screenings.
He explained that treating serious illnesses like cancer is very costly and could exhaust funds meant to serve many people. He added that despite funding challenges, the state has strong leadership in the health sector.
According to him, Governor Umo Eno, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem Emmanuel John, and other health officials are committed to improving healthcare delivery in Akwa Ibom State.
