By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Yanmar Ortese says the state government has enrolled over 5,500 Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the State’s Health Insurance Scheme.

The Commissioner who made the disclosure Monday in Makurdi while briefing newsmen as part of activities to mark the 2024 World Health Day, with the theme ‘My Health, My Right’, said over
50,000 of the most vulnerable population in the state had also been registered in the scheme.

He expressed joy at the commitment of Governor Hyacinth Alia to improving the health of the people following his allocation of over15 percent of the state’s 2024 budget to the health sector in compliance with the Abuja declaration of the African Union countries adding that so much had been achieved in the sector.

He however regretted that despite the achievements recorded, the state was facing significant challenges as it was experiencing multiple disease outbreaks including Lassa Fever, measles and Buruli Ulcer among others.

He said: “Currently, we are responding to the largest fever outbreak in the history of the state. Our response capabilities are stretched, particularly as we lack a functional public health Molecular Laboratory.

“Our fight against Tuberculosis is ongoing, with the state ranking 6th in the country and 1st in the North Central Zone for TB cases.”

He called on stakeholders across all sectors to support the state in providing appropriate infrastructure and needed human resources to make health services accessible to citizens. “We also seek support in strengthening our Buruli Ulcer and TB control program to reverse the tide against the diseases.”

The World Health Organization, WHO, Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, represented by WHO State Coordinator for Benue State, Dr. Mohammed Abdulkarim, said consideration of vulnerable groups must be assessed.

According to him, “their needs ought to be purposively integrated into health programmes at all levels to accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage, UHC.

“We know that many in our region still need help with access to quality essential health services due largely to unfulfilled rights. This is further compounded by protracted and ongoing crises such as conflicts, climate change, food security, disease outbreaks and epidemics.

“The number of people aged 15 and over living with HIV is still high at an estimated 24.3 million in 2021 (3.4% of the total population) compared to 15.6 million in 2005. This reflects the continued transmission of HIV despite reductions in the incidence of people newly infected and the benefits of significantly expanded access to antiretrovirals.”

The Day was celebrated with a walk that started at the first gate of the Benue State University, BSU, Makurdi and terminated at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Makurdi.