Brenda Chidinma Imo-Eze
The Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency has revealed that it has enrolled over 136,000 persons in one year since it revatilization by the Ebonyi state Governor, Rt.Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.
This was made known in a press briefing by the Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr. Divine Igwe who outlined the remarkable transformation witnessed in the healthcare system under the present administration.
He revealed that the once-dormant Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency (EBSHIA) has been revitalized, enrolling a staggering 136,831 indegenes within just one year.
Dr. Divine Igwe, stated this isn’t just about numbers, out of this new enrollment, 9,000 are pregnant women, 15,000 are children under five, and we’ve ensured coverage for people with disabilities and the indigent.”
He maintained that through strong partnership with the State government, the agency has delivered a wide range of free healthcare services across all 171 political wards in the state.
Adding ““EBSHIA, through the support of the state government has offered so many free health services to beneficiaries across the 171 political wards of the state,” Dr. Igwe explained.
“The services included 4,608 free reserved immunization, 3,056 free normal deliveries, and 20,228 free malaria treatment,” he stated.
He maintained that the State government had championed the digitization of EBSHIA’s operations, ensuring transparency and efficiency, as residents can enroll in the programme online at www.ebshia.eb.gov.ng and select any of their preferred packages.
The Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency (EBSHIA) through healthy partnership with the State government has facilitated the accreditation of 26 private healthcare facilities, with the National Obstetrics Fistula Centre, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching hospital, Abakaliki and the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, Uburu as supportive facilities.
Adding “he also purchased ambulances for the general hospitals, and approved N11.5 billion for equipments and consumables in the general hospitals.
“He also approved N200 million for vulnerable groups’ health insurance insurance premium and released full monthly premium for State Civil Servants’ health Insurance to the tune of N37 million.
“He did not stop there, he started working on the rural roads to ensure quick access to facilities”, Igwe added.
The wife of the State Governor, Mrs. Uzoamaka Mary-Maudline Nwifuru subsequently through her pet project Better Health for Rural Women, Children and Internally Displaced Persons (BERWO) has also made a significant contribution through her foundation.
Over 4,000 pregnant women have received free enrollment and medical treatment, including major surgeries and cesarean sections, thanks to the foundation’s efforts.
“In EBSHIA’s partnership with the office of the wife of the Governor, out of the 4,076 pregnant women enrolled, 341 have delivered.
“Through the same office, EBSHIA harvested and performed free surgeries for 100 elderly males living with scrotal hernia across the 171 wards of the state” he enumerated.