The Abia State Executive Council has approved the formal commencement of the State’s Health Insurance Scheme which is geared towards improving affordable Healthcare access for residents.
The scheme which is a major step towards ensuring Universal Health Coverage in the State, is expected to provide comprehensive Medical coverage, ensure quality Healthcare Services for all.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu disclosed this while briefing Journalists on the outcome of this week’s Exco Meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Prince Okey Kanu, who noted that the present administration places high premium on the Health Sector, emphasized that the scheme would also provide Abia workers and residents with access to affordable Healthcare Services.
“The scheme underscores the premium that the State Government places on Heath Sector.
“It is a scheme that will grant Abia workers and indeed Abia citizens access to affordable Health Services upon it’s rollout“, the Commissioner stated.
He noted that the project Ekwueme which that involves the construction of 200 Primary Health Centers across the 184 wards of the State is ongoing and progressing well adding that the project has reached the completion length of about 60 percent.
“What that means is that in the next weeks, that project will be completed and fit for commissioning“. the Commissioner assured.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, described the Abia State Health Insurance Scheme as a noble initiative and a bold step toward improving healthcare delivery for those formally employed in the Abia State Civil Service and their dependents.
He revealed that the Governor has already approved ₦1 Billion to support the project, with an initial disbursement of ₦500 Million, to be followed by another ₦500 Million after six months.
“The Abia State Health Insurance Scheme is meant to address the Healthcare needs of Workers’ in Abia State”, he said.
The Commissioner disclosed that Governor Otti has directed that a three-month sensitization program be conducted across all Ministries to help Civil Servants fully understand the benefits of the scheme and ensure that they enjoy affordable access to quality Healthcare.
Prof. Uche also noted that the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), which caters to vulnerable groups, is already operational, with over 54,000 enrollees currently benefiting from it.
He explained that, by law, every Civil Servant is required to contribute 5% of their basic Salary to the Insurances Scheme, while the State contributes 10%.
The Commissioner however noted that in a bid to ease the financial burden on Workers, the Governor has approved an initial State contribution of 12.5% for the first six months, while Civil Servants will contribute 2.5%.
