By Anne Azuka
The Chairman of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Chief John Nani has enrolled 300 more indigent women drawn from the various kingdoms in Urhobo nation into the Indigent Enrollee Adoption Initiative of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission for free healthcare services.
Chief Nani’s kind gesture was in fulfillment of his promise while paying for health insurance for 240 persons earlier in April this year, that he would sponsor more Urhobo women.
The State government has braced up to surmount the barriers faced by the vulnerable populations in accessing healthcare, through the Indigent Enrollee Adoption Initiative of the Delta State Contributory Health Scheme.
Addressing the gathering during the event, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Dr. Isaac Akpoveta commended Chief John Nani for the kind gesture, describing it as a demonstration of commitment to social responsibility and the welfare of the vulnerable in the society.
Dr. Akpoveta said that though healthcare is a fundamental human right, many cannot access it; hence, the importance of such philanthropic efforts to ensure no one is left behind.
He thanked Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for his consistent support for the scheme, which has enabled the commission to achieve success, adding that before the 2030 deadline of the World Health Organization (WHO), Delta State would have achieved the Universal Health Coverage goal.
While reiterating the readiness of the commission for a hitch-free implementation, the Director-General called on well-meaning individuals, associations, and groups, including those in the diaspora, to key into the Indigent Adoption Initiative of the Commission and purchase health insurance for as many indigent persons as they could, at the subsidized cost of ₦7,000 per person per year.
The sponsor of the 300 new enrollees and Chairman of DESOPADEC, Chief John Nani, represented at the event by Chief Happy Otojareri, lauded the state government for the initiative, saying it was apt, especially at a time when the country was experiencing inflation, leading to high costs of medication.
The president of the UPU Women’s Wing, Dame Rose Oghene, and other women leaders who spoke, expressed gratitude, adding that the adoption and enrollment of their members into the scheme have not only helped to spread good health in the Urhobo nation but have also led to a significant increase in membership of the UPU Women’s Wing.
Some of the beneficiaries that spoke said they have never had it this good and thanked the state government, their sponsor, and the UPU leadership for selecting them to enjoy free healthcare for a year.
It is noteworthy that Chief Nani had earlier sponsored the health insurance of 240 women from the UPU Women’s Wing, bringing the total number of women sponsored by him to 540.
It could be recalled that the initiative has been embraced by many philanthropists who had adopted and purchased health insurance for indigent persons around them since the economy continues to bite hard, quality healthcare has remained an elusive dream to many Nigerians.
