By Brenda Chidinma Imo-Eze
The Ebonyi State Government has spent approximately ₦3.7 billion on health insurance, with the state scheme recording healthcare services valued at ₦16.7 billion between 2023 and 2026, the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency (EBSHIA) has said.
The Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr Divine Okemefuna Igwe, disclosed this on Tuesday during a press conference in Abakaliki, where he presented the agency’s four-year performance report.
Igwe said the agency recorded 437,027 healthcare encounters and 549,653 healthcare services during the period, covering maternal healthcare, surgical interventions, treatment of communicable diseases and management of chronic conditions.
He said the interventions had helped beneficiaries access medical care while reducing the financial burden associated with illnesses, particularly among vulnerable households.
At the media engagement, several beneficiaries, including Precious Uguru, Happiness Ituma, Celine Aleke, Onyinyechi Nkwegu, Nkechi Nweke, Charity Nwovu and Rita Isaac, testified to receiving medical care, successful surgeries and other treatments through the scheme.
Igwe disclosed that enrolment had increased from 32,149 beneficiaries in 2022 to 166,118 in 2026, representing a growth of approximately 417 per cent.
According to him, the agency’s programmes cover pregnant women, children, elderly persons, civil servants, students, people living with HIV and tuberculosis, as well as other vulnerable residents.
Despite the growth, he said coverage remained approximately 5.2 per cent of Ebonyi’s estimated 3.2 million population, indicating the need to enrol more residents.
He called for increased participation by residents, philanthropists, political appointees and community leaders to expand enrolment and protect vulnerable households.
Igwe further disclosed that the state governor had approved the enrolment of an additional 200,000 beneficiaries into the scheme, adding that the agency’s Vision 2030 targets at least two million residents enrolled.
He said the agency recorded 114,298 antenatal care services, 33,706 normal deliveries, 2,093 Caesarean sections and 543 assisted deliveries, bringing the total obstetric service records to 150,640.
The agency also recorded 1,450 surgical cases under its main surgical categories, including 855 hernia surgeries, 337 fibroid surgeries, 243 appendectomies and 15 lump-removal procedures, alongside 12 specialised surgical cases.
Igwe said EBSHIA had expanded its healthcare provider network to 248 facilities, comprising 183 primary healthcare facilities, 62 secondary facilities and three tertiary facilities, to improve access to medical services across the state.
Earlier, the Board Chairman of EBSHIA, Dr Elizabeth Ogechi Ogbaga, appreciated the Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, and his wife, Mrs Uzomaka Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, for their commitment to the health sector, stating that their efforts had improved citizens’ well-being. She urged the press to ensure objective reporting of the governor’s achievements in the agency.
The Special Assistant to the Governor on Primary Healthcare, Dr Sabinus Nwibo, described the scheme as a life-changing intervention, recalling Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s role in establishing its legal framework while serving as Speaker of the State House of Assembly.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ebonyi State Council, Comrade Sampson Nwafor, commended the agency for presenting beneficiaries to share their experiences and pledged the media’s support in promoting wider enrolment.