Gov Uzodimma Flags Off Health Insurance Programme at Umuezeala Owerri Headquarters in Ehime Mbano, Commends LGA Boss Nwodu

By Chinenye Chukwuma …

The enrollment of three thousand three hundred (3,300) Ehime Mbano residents into Imo Care health Insurance Programme has officially commence aiming to provide affordable, equitable and quality healthcare.

Flagging Off the Programme at the local government headquarters Umuezeala Owere, the Imo state Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma said the initiative will enhance the quality of life and productivity of the people of the area as people are often forced to choose between the health and essential needs due to financial constraints.

Represented by the commissioner for Primary Health, Health Insurance and Social Services Dr. Prosper Ohayagha, Uzodimma call on well meaning individuals of the area to emulate the vision of the local government Chairman, Chief Francis Nwodu in achieving long lasting, sustainable, equitable and comprehensive health coverage for the people of Ehime Mbano through the Imo Care health Insurance Programme.

According to Governor Hope Uzodimma, “this momentous occasion marks a significant milestone in our collective journey towards improving the health and well being of our people. For far too long, access to quality healthcare has remained a distant dream for many of our citizens,, financial constrians
, coupled with inadequate healthcare infrastructure have often forced individuals to make agonizing choices between health and other essentially needs. This programme represents a beacon of hope, a testament to our commitment to ensuring that every residents of Ehime Mbano has access to affordable , equitable and quality healthcare.

“I want to express my profund appreciation to our visionary Executive Chairman Chief Francis Nwodu, his unwavering dedication to the welfare of our people has been instrumental in bringing this life changing programme to fruition, I urge all well meaning individuals both within and outside our LGA to embrace this programme and support it’s successful implementation”.

Earlier in his welcome speech, the Executive Chairman of Ehime Mbano Local Government Area , Chief Francis Nwodu confirmed that the programme which will course about 50 million naira will begin with an initial batch of one thousand one hundred (1,100) beneficiaries across the 11 wards focusing on vulnerable groups including the indigents, the elderly, pregnant and nursing mothers, and children under 5 years.

Hear him, “the Health Insurance Programme we are flagging off today will cover a total of 3,300 people across the 11 wards in Ehime Mbano LGA which translates to 300 beneficiaries per ward. The scheme will take off with the first batch of 1,100 beneficiaries which means 100 people per ward. The second batch will follow with another 1,100 beneficiaries and third batch 1,100 until we hit the target of 3,300”.

Ehime Mbano LGA Boss who disclosed that during his election campaign, he promised the people of Ehime Mbano that he will queue into the Imo Health Insurance Programme as a way to maximally Carter for the health needs of the indigent , the aged, pregnant women and nursing mothers, babies between 0-5 years and other vulnerable population within the locality, also said, “it is our desire to touch our people at the point of their needs hence we shall continue to explore and exploit the opportunities that will enable us to achieve a better life for our people “.

Adding his voice, the Executive Secretary Imo State Health Insurance Agency, Dr Uchenna Ewelike said , “I wish to acknowledge through this remarks that states and nations is committed to achieving sustainable prosperity prioritize the enrollment of a substantial proportion of their population into health Insurance schemes. Imo state Health Insurance Agency has made commendable progress by enrolling approximately 170,906 individuals across it’s 4 major enrollment population cohorts”.

Dr Ewelike used the opportunity to extend his heartfelt gratitude to the visionary Executive Chairman of Ehime Mbano LGA Chief Francis Nwodu, for wholeheartedly embracing the visionary mandate of Governor Hope Uzodimma. According to him, “the Executive Chairman’s commitment to ensuring social and financial risk protection for the most vulnerable residents of Ehime Mbano LGA remains a testament to the Chairman’s leadership and dedication to improving the quality of lives of the people, am grateful to our visionary and health loving Governor for his steadfast commitment to lifting Imolites out of health poverty through his unwavering pursuit for equitable healthcare access”.

Also speaking, the state coordinator of the National Health Insurance Authority, Mr Chimezie Ezennabike commended Ehime Mbano LGA Chairman’s initiative to provide free health care services to 3,300 residents for one year, which he said will enhance the visibility of Ehime Mbano in agency’s future programme particularly in addressing critical issues.

Some of the beneficiaries, Mr Innocent Nwokeke from Agbaghara Nsu and Mrs Chilaka from Umunakanu Owere expressed the gratitude for gaining access to free , quality medical care through the sponsorship of the Local Government.