The Kwara State government says no fewer than 85,000 rural dwellers have benefitted from the Kwara Community Health Insurance Scheme from 2007 to date.

The Special Assistant to the governor on Community Health Insurance Scheme, Alhaji Oba Sulyman said this in Ilorin, the Kwara State Capital, North Central Nigeria, while fielding questions from newsmen on the Scheme.

He said the five-year renewable scheme being supported by international development partner, was targeted to cover 600,000 beneficiaries 2020, if the programme was renewed.

Alhaji Sulyman commended the Organisation for Economic and Development for awarding Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on his health insurance programme. "It was a well deserved one," he said.

He described it as an evidence of the present administration's focus and determination to improve the welfare of the people in the state.

According to him, the programme is the first of its kind in the country, saying the achievement recorded had attracted Kaduna and Ogun states to visit Kwara to understudy the programme.

Alhaji Sulyman however, called on the people to complement the government's efforts in the implementation of the programme so as to enhance more success.