The Bayelsa State Government has reiterated the need for all residents of the state to key into the Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme (BHIS)in view of the enormous health benefits derivable from the scheme.
The State Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Hon. Ebiowu Koku-Obiyai made the remarks during an interactive meeting with Stakeholders in the health sector organized by the management of BHIS in collaboration with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Bayelsa State Chapter at the Conference Room of the Bayelsa Health Insurance House to enlighten private school Proprietors and their Staff on the need for them and their students to register with the scheme.
The Commissioner who was represented by the Director of Public Orientation and Enlightenment, Dr. Sophia Obi, who spoke on “THE ROLE OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA IN ADVANCING HEALTH AND EDUCATION IN BAYELSA STATE” said the Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme was a well thought out health interventionist programme designed by the state Government to cater for the health needs of its residents.
While thanking the management of the Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme for the successes recorded within the period of its operation, she said the Prosperity Government remains committed to the delivery of quality healthcare services and education in the State.
On his part, the State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Dr. Gentle Emelah, represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the Ministry of Education, Mr. Ogbara Faith urged private school operators to take full advantage of the Scheme to guarantee good health for their pupils, students and teachers alike, noting that without good health no proper teaching and learning can take place.
The Executive Secretary of BHIS, Dr. Zuoboemi Agadah, while giving an overview of the scheme, said it is a social health insurance programme that guarantees all residents of the state—regardless of economic class—the same access to necessary medical care without driving them into financial hardship.
He highlighted the four basic operational components of the scheme as the formal, informal, vulnerable, and students’ programmes, stressing that pupils and students of private schools also fall under the students’ component, except those whose parents are public servants.
The Executive Secretary, who urged private school proprietors to work out modalities to join the scheme as a group or union for ease of administration, said the scheme has the mandate to cover all residents of the state.
He noted that, many times, we lose children to death due to a lack of finances for medical attention; hence, the BHIS has come as a relief to residents of the state from the burden of out-of-pocket expenses whenever they fall sick.
Dr. Agadah said the scheme is a laudable government initiative whose implementation has been judged the best-operating health insurance programme in the country.
In his remarks, the President of NAPPS, Bayelsa State Chapter, Barr. Marshall Abraham commended the management of BHIS for effective service delivery and appealed to his colleagues in the private education sector to embrace the scheme, noting that indeed the scheme is saving lives in the state.
Credits:
Press Release: Ogio Ipigansi
Content Design | Adaptation for Web/Socials: Glory B. Temerigha
Media: BHIS TV (BHIS)
Date: 19th September, 2025