By Anne Azuka
150 indigent residents of Naifor Island, Ogbe Ijoh, a riverine community in Warri South West Local Government Area, have been enrolled into the Delta State Contributory Health Scheme, courtesy of Light Up The Creeks Foundation, a charitable organisation.
The gesture is in response to the clarion call for individuals and groups to key into the Indigent Enrollee Adoption Initiative of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission, in its avowed commitment to breaking all forms of barriers in accessing quality healthcare in the state.
The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Dr. Isaac Akpoveta commended the Chairman of the Light up the Creeks Foundation, Chief Favour Izuokumor and his management team for prioritising the health of the people.
Dr. Akpoveta said that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has invested heavily in the health sector, especially providing free healthcare for pregnant women and children under 5, while subsidising healthcare for those in the formal and informal sectors.
Dr. Akpoveta represented by the Director, Planning, Research, Statistics and ICT of the Commission, Mr. Emmanuel Akpofure said healthcare is not a luxury reserved only for the rich.
This, he called on other well-meaning Deltans and groups within and outside the state, to sponsor health insurance for vulnerable people around them, at a government subsidised rate of N7000 a year, per person.
He assured the people of the state government’s commitment to inclusive access to healthcare, in line with the MORE agenda of the Governor Oborevwori administration.
The Chairperson of the Light Up the Creeks Foundation Management, Mrs Agbajor Jolomi Pajiah and Pastor Jeremiah Samson, said the Foundation, which is a gathering of like minds, understood the plight of the Creeks and was working to reach out to the vulnerable through various forms of empowerment, hence the move to sponsor health insurance to enable 150 persons in Naifor Island access healthcare freely, for a whole year.
They commended Governor Oborevwori for his giant strides in the various sectors of the economy and the Commission for providing a platform through which indigent persons could be sponsored to enjoy the state health insurance scheme, saying that they were happy to partner with the state Government.
The State Cordinator National Health Insurance Authority, Mr. Sunday Ojoneh represented by Mr Samuel Uzoka said health insurance was key to solving challenges of health complications and death resulting from poverty, as it saves out of pocket expenses and helps spread good health.
Beneficiaries were excited as they expressed gratitude to the state government for the scheme, while also thanking their sponsor Mr. Favour Izuokumor and his team for the gesture.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of a plaque to the sponsor, Mr. Favour Izuokumor as a “Health insurance Ambassador”, registration of the beneficiaries into the scheme as well as the Presentation of health Cards to the new enrollees.
The representative of the BHCPF NHIA presenting a new health card to one of the beneficiaries of the health insurance premiums sponsored by Light Up The Creek Foundation
The Chairperson of Light Up The Creek Foundation, Mrs Agbajor Jolomi Pajiah and Pastor Jeremiah Samson were presented with the “Health Insurance Ambassador” award, for the Foundation’s efforts in providing affordable healthcare for 150 residents of Naifor Sandfill II.
