From Nabob Ogbonna, Abakiliki
The Ebonyi State Government yesterday urged stakeholders and wealthy citizens to assist in addressing the challenges facing access to quality healthcare services by enrolling vulnerable groups and individuals into the state’s health insurance scheme.
The Executive Secretary of the State Health Insurance Agency (EBSHIA), Dr. Divine Igwe, make this appeal on Thursday while presenting the scorecards of the agency’s two-year in Office, at the Women Development Centre, Abakalik.
Igwe further stated that not less than 137,133 individuals enrolled between 2023 and 2024 have gained from the quality healthcare services provided by the agency, across the existing 171 selected primary healthcare centres.
He maintained that EBSHIA which was reassimilated under governor, Francis Nwifuru’s led government, has equally integrated some private hospitals and the Alex Ekwueme Teaching Hospital in its programme.
According to him, “we are targeting not less than 1,000 clients in each of the 171 wards in the state.
“This would guarantee the advancement of EBSHIA and it’s sustainance beyond post governor Francis Nwifuru’s led administration.
“That is why we are appealing to stakeholders and wealthy individuals in the state to take the examplary steps of the state governor who already has taken care of the premium of the state civil servants to do the same for vulnerable groups and poor individuals in their various communities.
“Also, we are urging the 13 council chairmen to queue in by paying for local government workers.
‘But at the moment, a total of 137,133 individuals have been enrolled between 2023 and 2024.
“These included 42,088 children under the age of five, 20,786 pregnant women, 15,644 elderly persons, and 1,210 persons living with disabilities.
“In addition, 41,783 indigent residents were enrolled, along with 8,061 civil servants under the formal sector and 2,214 individuals under the informal sector.
“Again, 5,347 students benefited through the Tertiary Institutions Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP)”,he explained
He disclosed that over 86,000 people became active beneficiaries of the scheme in 2024 alone.
The medical services such as antenatal care, deliveries, immunizations, eye care, surgeries, sickle cell and disease management among others were in EBSHIA programme.
“The impact has been significant. Our enrollees are receiving quality healthcare without the burden of out-of-pocket payments, thanks to the vision of the Governor and support from the First Lady’s BERWO initiative,” Igwe added.
He praised Governor Nwifuru for prioritizing healthcare through consistent support to EBSHIA and policies targeted at vulnerable groups.
Speaking also, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma, stressed that critical gaps in the state health sector have been addressed within the 2 years stay of governor Nwifuru.
Salient Times learnt that the state which recently engaged the services of 40 medical doctors at the 13 general hospitals and other health institutions, had only 7 before the administration of governor Nwifuru in May, 29th 2023.
