EBONYI BEGINS STATE HEALTH INSURANCE, ENROLLS OVER 19,000 PERSONS
Reporter: AMECHI ODO
Ebonyi State Government says over 19,000 (nineteen thousand) vulnerable persons across 171 (one hundred and seventy one) political wards in the state have been enrolled into the state Basic Health Insurance Scheme.
Governor David Umahi announced this during the launch of the Scheme and Basic Health Care Provision Fund Programme at the Christian Ecumenical Centre Abakaliki.
The launch was to domesticate the Health Insurance Scheme and Basic Health Care Provision Fund Programme of the Federal Government aimed at increasing access to affordable health care services for the purpose of achieving Universal Health Coverage for Nigerians by the year 2030.
To achieve the objectives of the Programme, the Federal Government has approved an annual grant of one percent from the consolidated revenue fund as well as support from International Donor partners.
Governor Umahi explained that the over 19,000 vulnerable persons captured in the scheme in the state, including pregnant women, the elderly and children under five years, were awaiting validation for them to start enjoying health care services under Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
The Executive Secretary National Health Insurance Scheme, Professor Mohammed Sambo, represented by the General Manager, Dr. Jonathan Eke, called on the Ebonyi State Government to ensure proper funding of the State Health Insurance Agency.
The Acting Commissioner for Health in the State, Dr. Richard Nnabu, advised the people of the state to embrace the scheme to overcome the negative impact of the economy in having access to health services.
The Executive Secretary of the State Health Insurance Agency, Professor Uzoma Agwu, noted that they had created formal sector health plan for state and local government civil servants, employees in private sector, students and pensioners, informal sector health plan for those in the informal sector and equity and vulnerable health plan for those with needs.
Highpoint of the programme was the enrollment of Governor Umahi and his Deputy, Dr. Kelechi Igwe by the Agency into the Insurance Scheme.