The Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency (EBSHIA) says it has successfully recorded over 166,115 enrollees, facilitated 437,027 healthcare ‘encounters’ and delivered over 500,000 healthcare related services to beneficiaries.
The Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr Divine Igwe said this in Abakaliki during a media engagement to showcase th agency’s achievements and testimonies from beneficiaries.
Igwe said the state government in its commitment to provide adequate healthcare to the people through the agency, has spent N3.7 billion on various interventions.
“The enrolment has increased from a baseline of 32,149 when the present administration took over in 2023 to 166,115 presently, representing a 417 per cent increase.
“We have an additional 133,969 beneficiaries across the state’s 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 171 wards; all covering pregnant women, children, elderly persons, people living with HIV, tuberculosis patients, civil servants,among others.
“The agency has enrolled 38,322 pregnant women, 39,004 children, 15,311 elderly persons, 10,085 civil servants and 5,347 students, among other categories.”
The EBSHIA executive secretary noted that despite the remarkable growth, coverage remains approximately 5.2 per cent of Ebonyi’s estimated 3.2 million population.
“We appeal to well-meaning philanthropists to leverage their empowerment initiatives in enrolling more vulnerable residents across various villages and ommunities.
“Political appointees should at least, sponsor at least 20 vulnerable persons each while newly elected LGA chairmen should enrol their workers.
“Media practitioners should intensify public awareness by taking the message of health insurance to the hinterlands.”
The Chairman of the EBSHIA Board, Mrs Elizabeth Ogbaga said the engagement was organised to showcase the achievements of Governor Francis Nwifuru’s administration, attested publicly by the beneficiaries.
Ogbaga urged participants to share their experiences and encouraged media practitioners to seek clarification in ensuring accurate reportage of the agency’s activities.
“The governor has impacted lives through the agency and its management has with utmost commitment, discharged the mandate of rendering quality healthcare to the people.”
The Special Assistant to the Governor on Primary Healthcare, Dr Sabinus Nwibo, described the health insurance scheme as a life-changing intervention, epitomising the governor’s unwavering commitment to healthcare.
“Nwifuru further demonstrated this commitment even before becoming governor through his role in establishing the agency’s legal framework as the Speaker of the State House of Assembly,”
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Ebonyi Council, Mr Samson Nwafor described the beneficiries’ testimony as a practical way of enriching media reports and assured of effective media coverage.
Miss Happiness Ituma, a Beneficiary accessing treatment for sickle–cell, thanked the agency for its intervention in her health issue and prayed for God’s blessing upon the governor.
The event featured goodwill messages from traditional rulers, civil society organisations, students among others who hailed EBSHIA’s impact on the health well being of the citizens.
