By Victor Nwegede
The Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency (EBSHIA) has launched the third phase of its free medical and surgical intervention programme, with over 1,000 patients already registered for treatment across the state.
Executive Secretary of the Agency (EBSHIA), Dr. Divine Igwe, announced this on Thursday while briefing journalists at the Agency’s headquarters in Ochudo Centenary City, Abakaliki.
He explained that the intervention, conducted three times annually, is part of Governor Francis Nwifuru’s commitment to providing accessible healthcare under his administration’s “People’s Charter of Needs” agenda.
Giving a breakdown of the ongoing exercise, Dr. Igwe revealed that so far, 415 residents have been registered with hernia, 36 with fibroid, and 650 with various eye problems.
The eye-related cases, he noted, would be screened further to determine those requiring surgery, while others would receive medications and eyeglasses.
“As of today, we have documented 415 hernia cases, 36 fibroid cases, and 650 eye cases, totaling 1,101 beneficiaries.
"By the time registration closes, we may hit over 2,000 patients. All of them will undergo free treatment, fully paid for by government,” he stated.
Igwe recalled that while the previous administration supported patients by paying their hospital bills directly, the present government has institutionalized the process through health insurance for sustainability.
“Instead of waiting until people face emergency situations before paying their bills, we are enrolling them into the state health insurance scheme.
"This way, they can access medical care for a whole year or more without financial hardship,” he explained.
He stressed that health insurance is primarily designed to offer financial risk protection and reduce catastrophic medical expenditures for both indigenes and residents of Ebonyi State.
The EBSHIA boss disclosed that the current phase is being executed in partnership with the office of the Ebonyi First Lady, Chief Mrs. Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru, through her pet project, Better Health for Rural Women, Children and Internally Displaced Persons, BERWO.
According to him, the Governor’s wife is expected to officially flag off the surgeries upon her return, after which beneficiaries will be assigned to accredited hospitals for treatment.
On the Agency’s strategy for ensuring accountability, Igwe said patients are being carefully registered, issued identity cards, and assigned to specific hospitals.
He added that only qualified consultants and accredited hospitals are permitted to carry out the surgical procedures.
“We cannot compromise on quality. Only hospitals with qualified consultants will handle the surgeries. This was the model we used previously, and it gave us 100 percent success. By God’s grace, we will maintain that record,” he assured.
He emphasized that the thorough documentation and structured enrolment process are deliberate steps to prevent leakages, mismanagement, or the use of unqualified facilities.
Responding to complaints by some patients that hospitals asked them to return their health cards after treatment, Igwe said such issues were due to improper documentation or misconduct by hospital staff.
He assured that his office was already investigating and addressing such lapses.
Igwe urged residents across the 171 wards of Ebonyi State to take advantage of the ongoing exercise, stressing that there is no fixed target number of beneficiaries.
“We don’t set a cap. Our goal is to register everyone with genuine medical needs. If the number exceeds this phase, they will be carried over into the next phase, which comes up later this year,” he said.
He added that the Agency will remain at the registration points until the end of the month to ensure maximum coverage before the surgical procedures commence.
Igwe affirmed that the initiative demonstrates the government’s determination to implement the People’s Charter of Needs by addressing pressing healthcare challenges among the population.
“This programme is about taking healthcare to the people. Our responsibility is not just to protect them financially but also to ensure positive health outcomes. That is what this administration stands for,” he added.
