By Victor Nwegede
Beneficiaries of the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency (EBSHIA) have endorsed Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for a second term in office, following what they described as remarkable expansion in healthcare coverage and service delivery across the state.
The endorsement came on Tuesday at Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, during a stakeholders’ review and appreciation event organized by the agency.
Presenting the performance overview of the scheme, the Executive Secretary of EBSHIA, Dr. Divine Igwe, disclosed that health insurance coverage in Ebonyi State has risen to 137,133 enrollees in 2026, representing a 429 per cent increase from 32,149 recorded in 2022.
He attributed the growth to sustained government investment in the health sector and increased public confidence in the state’s healthcare delivery system.
Igwe said the administration of Governor Nwifuru had redefined access to healthcare by ensuring that quality medical services are no longer reserved for the privileged few.
“His Excellency has demonstrated beyond doubt that healthcare is not a privilege for the rich but a fundamental right of every citizen,” he said, drawing applause from beneficiaries at the event.
According to him, the health insurance scheme has become one of the strongest pillars of the state’s healthcare system, providing financial protection and improved access to medical services for vulnerable households.
He noted that beneficiaries under the scheme have continued to record improved health outcomes, including safe deliveries, surgical interventions, and timely treatment of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Igwe further revealed that between 2023 and 2026, the agency recorded a total of 394,387 encounter visits and 478,607 services utilized across accredited health facilities in the state.
He said common services accessed included antenatal care, malaria treatment, normal deliveries, hypertension screening, and surgical procedures, among others.
Highlighting key maternal and child health achievements, he stated that the scheme recorded 94,376 antenatal care visits, 25,945 normal deliveries, and 1,511 Caesarean sections within the period under review.
He added that infectious disease management also accounted for a significant portion of services, with over 113,000 cases of uncomplicated malaria treated, alongside thousands of cases of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.
Igwe assured that the agency would continue to expand coverage to ensure universal access to affordable healthcare across all 171 wards in the state, in line with its long-term strategic health vision.
On behalf of beneficiaries, he formally declared their collective endorsement of Governor Nwifuru for a second term, describing the governor’s healthcare reforms as transformative and life-saving.
“Our testimonies are your campaign. We proudly declare our total support for His Excellency, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, for a second term in office,” he said.
Other speakers at the event included the Board Chairman of EBSHIA, Barrister Elizabeth Ogbaga, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Lawrence Ezeogo, both of whom commended the agency’s performance and expansion.
In his remarks, Governor Nwifuru, represented by the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, commended the agency for what he described as effective implementation of government health policies.
He said the administration remained committed to strengthening healthcare delivery, education, infrastructure, and human capital development to improve the welfare of citizens.
The governor assured that the state would continue to deepen reforms in the health sector to ensure wider coverage and improved service delivery across Ebonyi State.
Meanwhile, the OIC Elizabeth Odoh while speaking on behalf of her colleagues said Nwifuru's leadership has transformed the state health sector, and maintained that his re-election come 2027 is sancrosant.
