By Anne Azuka
Two hundred and ninety-five(295) indigent persons living with disabilities have been enrolled into the Delta State Health Insurance scheme, following the payment of their insurance premium by the Director-General Delta State Contributory Health Commission, Dr. Isaac Akpoveta.
The programme under the Indigent Enrollee Adoption Initiative (IEAI) is aimed at giving opportunity to well-meaning Deltans to sponsor the less privileged for the health insurance scheme of the commission.
This came barely two weeks Dr. Isaac Akpoveta and his family sponsored one thousand indigent and vulnerable persons in and around Ofuoma community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the State.
The Delta State Contributory Health Commission tagged; ” MORE Health for All” will surely enrich their lives, as Good Health is WEALTH, as the saying goes.
Speaking during the registration of the 295 indigent persons with disabilities in Asaba, the Director-General of the State Health Insurance Commission,DSCHC, Dr. Isaac Akpoveta called on all Deltans of means, nationally or in the diaspora to imbibe the concept of Collective Responsibility especially by adopting indigents and vulnerable persons in the State and purchase the health insurance card of the DSCHS for them.
Dr Akpoveta who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission said, “it is just at a subsidized rate of 7,000 naira only per person for a whole year of accessible and quality health care.
“With this insurance card they will receive quality healthcare services from any Health care facility of their choice for one year.
“Oborevwori want MORE, not just for the peace but for better healthcare services in the state.
He noted that the State Contributory Health Commission was established to run a Social Health Insurance Scheme with several plans: Equity Plan; Formal Plan; Informal Plan and Private Plan.
“It also runs Initiatives: Indigent Enrollee, Adoption Initiative: Artisans Enrollee, Adoption Initiative; Access To Finance Initiative and the TISSHIP.
Dr. Akpoveta pointed out that with these plans and initiatives, the commission has enrolled over 2 milion residents of Delta State with over 7 million encounters since inception of the schemes about 8 years ago.
DSCHC boss averred that the current administration has been supporting the scheme having paid billions of naira especially for the vulnerable; maternal and children under 5 years.
DG assured that the commission would continue to strive to enroll more Deltans and ensure they receive quality health services.
On his part, the Chairman National Association of People Living with Disabilities, Delta State Chapter, Comrade Ernest Ibuzor expressed appreciation to Dr. Isaac Akpoveta for his kind gesture.
Comrade Ibuzor said,” I am so delighted for what is happening today, we thank God that it has come to pass, as you can see that the people with disabilities are happy and I am personally happy because it is what I always plan for my people.
” Some of our people had suffered from health challenges such as malaria, typhoid and some had died in the process because of non provision of health care services.
“I thank God that the DG, Dr. Isaac Akpoveta has made it possible for my people living with disabilities to get enrolled into the State health insurance scheme.
“He has assured us that after registration of my people today, the can now use the insurance card given to them to obtain medical care services from any hospital of their choice in the State”, Ibuzor stressed.
Some of the beneficiaries interviewed thanked the Director-General, Dr. Akpoveta for the good opportunity given to them to assess healthcare services free of charge in hospitals of their choice.
