Anambra Civil Society Network ACSONET, a foremost Citizens stakeholders group has tasked Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo on the provision of health insurance for indigent people as part of palliatives to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
The Coordinator of the group, Prince Chris Azor, made the call during a chat with journalists shortly after his paper presentation at a workshop on Accountability, Trust and Integrity, organized by the State IFAD/Value Chain Development Programme VCDP, in Awka, Anambra State.
According to the Citizens advocate who doubles as Co-chair Open Government Partnership OGP, provision of quality and affordable healthcare insurance by the by the State government should form part of the proposed palliatives to cushion the adverse effects of fuel Subsidy removal on the poor masses in the State.
Prince Azor in his remarks, cited examples of other States like Lagos, Edo, Ekiti, Taraba and others who have embarked on similar interventions, and wondered why Anambra State had yet to come up with any visible programme to ameliorate the sufferings of the masses who have experiencing crushing social and economic hardship as a result of fuel subsidy removal and floating of the Naira.
Comrade Azor further observed that Health Insurance offers direct benefits to the poor and vulnerable by increasing productivity and improving livelihoods.
This according to him would go a long way in reducing crimes and criminality thereby, aiding accountability, trust and integrity compliance amongst citizens in business and sundry bocations.
“The adoption of health insurance as a subsidy palliative is crucial for addressing rising healthcare costs and ensuring access to quality healthcare for all individuals. Health insurance, as a statutory palliative, will surely ease the health burden of subsidy removal on Citizens”,he concluded.
