By Anne Azuka
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State on Thursday inaugurated the newly elected executives of Association of Community Newspapers Publishers of Nigeria at its 2024 Lectures and Awards Ceremony.
Governor Oborevwori, represented by his Political Adviser, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo urged the new executives to justify the confidence reposed on them by their members.
He decried the challenges posed by newspaper publishers urging them to be resilient and focus on reporting issues affecting rural communities.
The Delta State Governor Delta State Governor, assured of continued collaboration with the association in adequate coverage of his administration’s policies and programmes especially at the grassroots.
Governor pleaded with oil and gas companies whose major operations are in the rural communities to make budgetary provisions to support community newspaper publishers.
Meanwhile, Director General of Delta State Contributory Health Commission, Doctor Isaac Akpoveta has given assurance that sixty per cent of residents in the state will be covered in the health scheme of the Commission next year.
Dr Akpoveta stated this in Asaba in an interview with newsmen shortly after being presented an award of excellence in appreciation of his contribution to the health sector by the Association of Community Newspapers Publishers of Nigeria at its 2024 Lectures and Awards Ceremony.
He said over two point four million residents of Delta State had been enrolled into the contributory health scheme so far .
Dr. Akpoveta who hinted that the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori had committed over ten billion naira on the scheme as equity payment for pregnant women, under five aged children and the physically challenged ones who according to him do not pay for healthcare in any hospital.
He urged parents to register their children under five years at any health centre and hospital free of charge to access free healthcare.
The Delta State Contributory Health Commission Director General who dedicated the award he received to Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, for according priority to the health programme, used the occasion to appeal to well to do Deltans to purchase health premium of seven thousand naira yearly, for the less privileged residents of the state as part of their contributions to achieving universal health coverage .
”I dedicate the award to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for his MORE Agenda, for using his political will, financial support, and professional grassroots sagacity to make the scheme achieve the desired results.The Governor is the owner of the MORE Agenda which simply means go out there, and bring more Deltans especially the vulnerable, who ordinarily can not afford to pay for health scheme . The Governor has made it clear that every pregnant woman in Delta State is entitled to free healthcare ; from the date of conception to delivery whether by normal delivery or cearcerian”, Akpoveta said.
Dr Akpoveta revealed that the Delta State Contributory Health Commission had received numerous awards, saying that Delta is ranked number one state in the country with the highest enrollees , and also best health insurance organisation in Nigeria and also in West Africa.
While expressing gratitude to media professionals for good cover of the activities of the commission in all parts of the state, Doctor Akpoveta said the Commission would intensify efforts in sensitizing all Deltans on the importance of the scheme.
Earlier in an address of welcome, the outgoing chairman of the Association of Community Newspapers Publishers of Nigeria, Comrade Jude Obiemenyego said he was impressed that he had led the association well for good seven years.
He said,”Community Newspapers Publishers have contributed and continue to contribute our own quota by giving sense of belonging to the government and grassroots dwellers as part of our responsibilities through exchange of vital information that attracts good service delivery for growth and development of the state .
The theme of the event which featured the election of new executives to run the affairs of the association for the next three years is: “The Incessant Killings In The Country: Building Synergy Between The Governments And Grassroots For Effective Remedy”.
The newly sworn in Chairman of the Association of Community Newspapers Publishers of Nigeria, Comrade Ike Abiagom, said he would build on the foundation of his predecessors in office, promising all inclusive administration.
