Yuletide: EBSHIA solicits health insurance as part of packages for less privileged
By Oswald Agwu, Abakaliki
Public spirited individuals in Ebonyi state have been urged to consider including health insurance in their Christmas packages for the less privileged in their communities.
The Executive Secretary, Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency, Dr Divine Igwe made the appeal Monday in an interaction with newsmen in his office in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.
Igwe called on them to leverage the Agency’s “Adopt your Community Initiative” to enhance the enrollment statistics of their people in the state health insurance scheme within the yuletide period.
The “Adopt your Community Initiative” is a special package of the Agency designed to encourage well placed members of communities to sponsor enrollment of many other community members according to their abilities.
The essence is to ensure that a greater number of people of the state enjoy the universal health coverage and other health benefits offered by the agency.
Igwe explained that anyone who sponsors enrollment of up to 100 persons under the scheme receives a reward of “Health Insurance Ambassador” of the Agency, powered by the State government.
Igwe stated: “I urge political leaders, businessmen and women, philanthropists to consider including health insurance in their Christmas packages for the less privileged.
“To support the initiative, individuals can enroll 100 persons into the Ebonyi Health Insurance Scheme by paying N1,500,000 at a premium of N15,000 per enrollee, and be rewarded with the title of Health Insurance Ambassador.”
Igwe noted that in line with the approved formal sector social health insurance in Ebonyi State, all companies, schools and business owners with up to 5 staff members are also required to enroll them in the health insurance program on or before February 23, 2025.
He informed that as part of the new mandate of the Agency, it would be conducting free diverse surgeries every 4 months throughout 2025, urging interested public to register for the scheme at least 3months before the surgery date.
The Executive Secretary who seized the opportunity to commend Governor Francis Nwifuru, for his commitment to affordable health and general wellbeing of Ebonyi people also appreciated him for lifting the suspension order against him some weeks ago.
He pledged to redouble his efforts towards ensuring that the citizens of the state get the best of the government’s laudable initiatives in the health insurance sub sector, and called on all and sundries to take advantage of the scheme to secure their health especially as they celebrate the Christmas and new year.
