Enugu state enrols residents into health insurance scheme
The Enugu State Government says it has enrolled no fewer than 200,000 residents in its universal health insurance coverage scheme to ensure quality and affordable healthcare for its people.
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The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ikechukwu Obi, disclosed this in an interview on Tuesday, that the 200,000 include those directly enrolled by the state government and those enrolled by philanthropists on behalf of their indigent community members.
The commissioner noted that, “Enrollment is open for all to provide quality and affordable healthcare to the indigent residents in their closest neighbourhood health facilities.
“Philanthropists and public-spirited individuals can enrol people with payment of N12,000 annually to cover health expenses in any participating hospital and Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in the state for a year.”
Obi said that among the majority of the people directly enrolled by the government are Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), the elderly and other vulnerable individuals.
According to him, statewide enrollment of PWDs is ongoing, along with other segments of the society.
He said that, “Within a few days, we are going to launch the Formal Sector Health Insurance Scheme, which will involve enrolling civil and public servants.
“The Enugu State Agency for Universal Health Coverage is taking it gradually and ensuring that money and provisions are made available for any of the segments of residents of the state enrolled.
“The agency is ensuring that people enrolled in the state health insurance coverage scheme enjoy good services for many years.
“Within the course of time, we will introduce the Mass Community-Based Health Insurance and Informal Sector Health Insurance Schemes as well,” he said.
The commissioner noted that Gov. Peter Mbah is using preventable healthcare approach to give adequate attention to health matters in the state.
“Preventable healthcare approach is anchored on proactive health planning, unified stakeholders’ actions and adopting national strategic and impactful healthcare plans and programmes.”
