By Benson Ezugwu
Enugu, Dec. 13, 2025 (NAN) – In a significant move to strengthen its healthcare foundation, the Enugu State Agency for Universal Health Coverage (ESAUHC) has disbursed N270 million in capitation payments to 276 Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) across the state for services rendered in 2025. This direct funding mechanism represents a tangible shift from promise to practice in the quest for Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The Executive Secretary of ESAUHC, Dr. Edith Okolo, announced the disbursement during the 2025 UN Universal Health Coverage Day celebration in Enugu. She clarified that the funds are specifically allocated for the healthcare of 53,652 enrolled vulnerable individuals under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) programme.
“This scheme, which operates on a modest capitation of N1,000 per month or N12,000 per person annually, is a gateway to quality healthcare services at both public and accredited private facilities,” Dr. Okolo explained. This model is crucial; it moves away from out-of-pocket payments at the point of care, which often deter the poor from seeking treatment, and instead pools risk and resources to guarantee access.
The event, held annually on December 12 as designated by the United Nations, serves as a global checkpoint to review progress toward the Sustainable Development Goal of achieving UHC by 2030. “Our actions today reaffirm our commitment to that 2030 target for all residents of Enugu State,” she stated.
Dr. Okolo credited the state’s progress to the enabling environment created by Governor Peter Mbah’s administration. This includes an ambitious infrastructure drive involving the construction of a modern Type-2 Primary Healthcare Center in every political ward and the revitalization of higher-level Type-3 PHCs and General Hospitals. This multi-tiered approach ensures a functional referral network, preventing the overload of secondary facilities with primary care cases.
To ensure efficiency and transparency, ESAUHC has established fully equipped, functional offices in all 17 Local Government Areas. “All ESAUHC processes are digitalized, and our staff are fully computer-literate,” Okolo emphasized. “This digital backbone is non-negotiable for ensuring accountability, tracking service delivery, and enabling the prompt payment to providers that we have just demonstrated.” This operational efficiency is a key deterrent to fraud and builds trust among healthcare providers participating in the scheme.
The celebration also featured awards to outstanding healthcare providers, development partners, and agency personnel. Among the awardees, Pastor Beloved Dan-Anike, Chairman of Enugu East Local Government Council, praised the agency for complementing local government efforts. “Since we keyed into this programme, many of our people have accessed treatments free of charge at the point of service, lifting a significant financial burden,” he attested.
Private sector providers also endorsed the system’s effectiveness. Dr. Jovita Okafor, Chief Executive Officer of Divine Grace Hospital and Maternity, a service provider for ESAUHC, commended the agency’s responsiveness. “Even in the middle of the night, when you call the office for a service authorization code for a patient, they respond immediately. This operational reliability is what makes the scheme work for beneficiaries and providers alike.”
This sentiment was echoed by Dr. Ken Ogbu, the Enugu State Coordinator for the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), who described ESAUHC as “serious partners.” He revealed conducting impromptu checks on the agency’s service lines. “Sometimes I call them late at night, and they answer instantly, demonstrating a commendable state of alertness. This agency is up to its responsibility.”
The disbursement of N270 million is more than a financial transaction; it is a critical investment in the state’s human capital and a working model of how strategic funding, digital governance, and public-private collaboration can converge to make healthcare accessible and affordable for the most vulnerable, setting a practical benchmark for other states in Nigeria’s pursuit of Universal Health Coverage.
(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
BEN/MNA
Edited by Maureen Atuonwu
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