Executive Secretary in charge of Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency, EBSHIA, Dr. Divine Okemefuna Igwe has made notable and enduring impacts, in projecting the health policies of the present administration in the State.
The activities of the Agency are geared towards projecting Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s core mandate of ensuring that Ebonyi citizens access healthcare services easily and affordably.
This Agency has embarked on free Healthcare services to thousands of citizens of the State as those requiring surgeries have been operated upon, without any form of bureaucratic bottleneck procedure.
With the offer of free eye treatment, including surgeries where necessary, EBSHIA has given hope to those with eye defects of different proportions and magnitude. This is indeed a commendable and remarkable gesture, designed to give Ebonyi people a sense of belonging within the health sector of the State.
Beneficiaries of this initiative have expressed happiness and gratitude to God Almighty, EBSHIA and Ebonyi State Government, for giving them hope even when hope was completely lost.
Journalists took time out to visit these patients in different hospitals across the State. Consequently, testimonies of revived hopes, redeemed lives and restored dignities took the centre stage as a cross-section of beneficiaries of the 3rd phase of diverse free surgeries sponsored by the wife of Ebonyi State Governor in collaboration with the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency, EBSHIA interacted with newsmen.
Wife of Ebonyi state Governor, Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru, in advancement of her partnership with EBSHIA recently flagged-off the 3rd phase of the free surgeries, sponsored by her office through her Foundation, ranging from minor to complex Fibroids, Lipoma, Lumps, hernia, hydrocele, uterine prolapse repairs as well as eye care, Glaucoma and cataract surgeries
In a fact finding mission by Journalists to some of the 47 accredited Health facilities where various surgeries were performed across the state, beneficiaries narrated their ordeals from the ailments, and with tears of joy appreciated Governor Francis Nwifuru, the wife and EBSHIA led by Dr. Divine Okemefuna Igwe, for giving them an opportunity to access quality healthcare delivery.
Over 10 health facilities were visited by the Journalists during the tour, spanning through the three senatorial zones of the state: General Hospitals, Onueke, Elinwobvu, Umuezeoka, Ezzangbo in Ezza South, Abakaliki, Ezza North and Ohaukwu local government areas respectively; Pool of Bethsaida Specialist hospital, Ngbo in Ohaukwu; Little Seed hospital and maternity, Hope Eye care and Medical Services and the National Obstetrics Fistula Centre, Abakaliki, among others.
They confirmed that all the treatments given to them, including investigations, pre and post surgery care were done totally free of cost and prayed God to reward the Governor, his wife and the Insurance Agency for their benevolence.
Giving insight into the activities of the Agency, the Executive Secretary of the Ebonyi state Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Divine Okemefuna Igwe, explained that a total of 1,283 persons benefited in the current phase of the free surgical interventions, out of which 626 people received eye screening, 113 underwent eye surgeries, 626 received eye glasses while 518 received hernia surgeries, 126 had fibroid surgeries and 13, breast lump removals.
He further explained that the wife of the Governor through her foundation, Better Health for Rural Women, Children and Internally Displaced Persons, BERWO, has enrolled over 300 Sickle cell anaemia patients in the State Health insurance with 4,078 pregnant women, most of whom have delivered their babies through caesarean section free of cost.
“Ebonyi is indeed blessed—ours is the only state where both the Governor and his wife have shown consistent and genuine interest in the wellbeing and health of our people.
“At EBSHIA, our mission is clear: to provide financial risk protection and ensure that every Ebonyian, regardless of social status, has access to quality healthcare.
This Agency has helped the poor and less privileged to access quality healthcare services at no cost. This Policy is indeed commendable and laudable as it has guaranteed the improvement of the health state of Ebonyi people, beyond the administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.
Dr. Divine is indeed passionate about his job as the workforce attached to his Agency are always on their toes, to ensure that the mandate of the Governor in the area of health is achieved maximally against all odds.
His passion is unequalled as he is self-motivated, owing to his selfless disposition towards making sure that healthcare services are available to all and sundry. He has over time deployed the attribute of transparency, accountability and diligence in handling this health-oriented assignment of his.
According to him, “Personally, I am motivated by my own story. I have once been poor and sick, and I know what it means to have a health challenge but lack the funds to go to the hospital. This drives my passion: I will not want to leave office and regret that I could have done more. All that needs to be done must be done now, while God has given me the opportunity to serve.
“The mission is to do the work of Him that sent me while it is day, for the night cometh when no man shall work. And let me add this, as my conviction and guiding principle: Healthcare is not charity, it is dignity restored. Every life touched is a destiny preserved.”
Just recently, 29,000 persons with HIV were enrolled into the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Scheme free of charge. This policy of giving hope to the hopeless is indeed an impressive venture. With this initiative, all those affected with the disease, will receive treatment at no cost, in different hospitals across the State.
It is now on record, that this category of individuals have been given hope for survival and a sense of belonging in the State and the Society at large. Those of them who were thinking that contacting HIV would bring about the end of their lives, have been re-orientated to forge ahead for a better tomorrow.
It is no longer news that this Agency manned by Dr. Divine Okemefuna Igwe has added value and pride to the people of the State. This Agency has championed the cause of humanity as regarding affordable health-care delivery for many years now.
The accomplishments of the Agency has been possible through the support of the Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru and his wife, Mrs. Mary Maudaline Nwifuru of Ebonyi State.
The Agency has collaborated with the office of her Excellency to implement myriads of its programmes for the benefit of Ebonyi people
With the activities of this Agency, lives are constantly being saved, given longiveity as faces are made to smiles at all times
The Executive Secretary of EBSHIA, Dr. Divine has been able to manage the Board of the Agency for the overall interest of moving the Health Sector forward.
There is no form of rift or acrimony existing between the Board and the Agency. This is so, because of the Executive Secretary ‘s Godly and goodly disposition towards the handling of official matters.
The concept and establishment EBSHIA remain an unbeatable ideology of the Ebonyi State Government as it has made Ebonyi citizens to believe that there is always hope even in a state of hopelessness.
With the unbeatable vision, mission and passion of Dr. Divine Okemefuna Igwe, who is currently piloting the affairs of EBSHIA, Ebonyians should be rest assured that the Government of Ebonyi State led by Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has their interests at heart, especially as it concerns the Health Sector of the State.