NAN-HG-10
Health
By Uchenna Ugwu
Abakaliki, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Ebonyi on Tuesday declared support for the policies and programmes of the state government.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Abakaliki on Tuesday, the Coordinator of the scheme in the state, Mr Greg Azubuike, also demand the passage of the health insurance bill for legal backing.
Azubuike noted that the forum would help the stakeholders to deliberate on the challenges and prospects.
He said that with the health programme in the state, it would attain universal health coverage in a short while.
“With the health programme of the government, it will be difficult for any patient to die of common disease, which is the essence of health insurance.
“We request to have a state wide sensitisation that will attract traditional rulers with principal stakeholders in the sector and appeal to the government to pass the bill for legal backing,’’ he said.
The Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr Daniel Umezuruike, said Gov. David Umahi had declared a state of emergency in the health sector, having inherited rots in the sector.
He said that the state government had embarked on the renovation of
general hospitals, health centres and the six missionary hospitals in the state.
“We inherited a weak system but we are doing all we can to strengthen the primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities, including the missionary hospitals.
“The project had been funded and work has commenced in some of the facilities to ensure quality health delivery in the state and to actualise the universal health coverage,” he said.
Participants at the forum suggested proper information for accessing health services, monitoring of the system and administering proper services.
The stakeholders forum attracted federal establishments such as the police, prisons, National Identity Management Commission and health maintenance organisations. (NAN)
UVU/MVO
(Edited by Mbadiwe Okwor)