Ebonyi State Governor, David Nweze Umahi has flagged off the Basic Health Care Provision Fund Enrolment and the Implementation of the State Health Insurance Scheme, EBSHIA.
The flag-off ceremony took place at the Christian Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki on Tuesday.
Flagging off the Programme, the Governor thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for enthroning the National Health Insurance Scheme hence the domestication of the Programme in the State.
“ These are important programmes that are aimed to increase access to affordable health care services for all Nigerians towards achieving universal health coverage.
“ Let me say that the opportunity afforded us by Mr. President by the successful launch of the Programme is a very unique one. I wish to express the gratitude of all Ebonyians and residents of Ebonyi State for the opportunity to benefit from the National Insurance Scheme.
“ As of June 2021, about 19,160 vulnerable persons across the 171 wards of the State have been enrolled and awaiting validation”
He announced that so far, more than 19,160 Ebonyians comprising Women, Children and men have already keyed into the scheme.
“Let me announce that our Medical University, the first of its kind will be taking off latest by September. All the Students would live there, all the teaching Staff would leave there and of course, there is constant power supply, Medical Students would pay up to 5 million naira as School fees. The idea is that in three years, the University would yield over 10billion naira for the State Government and that is the Biafra we need, we intend to privatize the University before the end of our Administration.”
The Governor while announcing that all measures have been put in place for the success of the Programme in the State, pledged to continue to partner the donor Agencies like USAID to ensure the maximal benefits of citizens including Civil Servants.
He directed all Staff of the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education to plant one tree each to boost the beautification of the environment.
“I want to reposition the Health and Educational Institutions in Ebonyi State.
The Executive Secretary of National Health Insurance Scheme, Professor Mohammed Sambo represented by Dr. Jonathan Ekeh congratulated Ebonyians for the milestone achieved.
The Acting Commissioner for Health, Dr. Richard Nnabu described the Health Insurance Scheme as a wonderful initiative aimed at bettering the health condition of Ebonyi people.
He called on the people to key into the Programme to access affordable health care at all times.
“This is the best thing that has happened to Ebonyi State as far as Health is concerned, I want to appreciate His Excellency and all stakeholders for working tirelessly to ensure the implementation of the Programme in the State.”
In a remark, the Executive Secretary of Ebonyi State Health Insurance Scheme, EBSHIA, Professor Uzoma Agwu said the Programme would guarantee efficient health care delivery to Ebonyi citizens and thanked Governor David Nweze Umahi for the opportunity to make their input in better health care delivery to the people.
She said about 171 Primary Health Care Centres in the Political wards have been selected for the implementation of the Programme and expressed hope of a better health condition of the people through the Programme.
“We are ready, very ready to deliver, it is time to thank His Excellency, Engineer David Nweze Umahi for keying into this all-important Health Insurance Scheme to ensure better health care for our people.”
There were goodwill messages from partners who all pledged to contribute their quota to the success of the Programme in the State.
