The Ebonyi State Government has injected N3.7b into Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency Into Health Insurance Agency. (EBSHIA).
The Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr Divine Igwe, who disclosed this during a media engagement in Abakaliki, also noted that healthcare beneficiaries have increased from 32,149 to 116,118.
Igwe said the agency, established in 2013 and which commenced full operations in 2020, had facilitated thousands of maternal healthcare interventions, surgical procedures and medical treatments.
He added that five major categories of healthcare interventions represented approximately N3.7 billion in gross healthcare services.
He appealed to newly elected local government chairmen to enrol their workers in the scheme, while urging political appointees to sponsor at least 20 vulnerable persons each from their respective local government areas to promote universal health coverage.
The Board Chairman of EBSHIA, Dr Mrs Elizabeth Ogbaga, said the engagement was organised to showcase the achievements of Governor Francis Nwifuru’s administration in healthcare delivery and provide beneficiaries an opportunity to testify to the impact of the programme.
Also speaking, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Primary Healthcare, Dr Sabinus Nwibo, described the health insurance scheme as a life-changing intervention, particularly for poor and vulnerable residents, noting that governance should include providing essential services that improve people’s lives.
Some beneficiaries, including Uguru Precious and Invoke Nancy Nwakaego, said they delivered their babies through Caesarean section under the scheme, while Nwamini Agnes disclosed that she underwent hip surgery free of charge. Two sickle cell survivors, Aleke Celine and Ituma Happiness, also testified that they received free treatment.
Violet Okoye.
