AWKA – A 13-member Governing Council of Anambra State Health Insurance Agency has been inaugurated to facilitate health delivery services in the state.
The Council has its Chairman as, Dr Philip Umezoke and the Secretary as Mr Emmanuel Ezeoke.
The council also has the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Josephat Akabuike, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Ifeatu Onejeme and Dr Eric Anazodo (Nigeria Medical Association) as members.
Others are Mrs Chisom Uche (Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria), Mr Anselm Obi (Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists), Mr Benson Jibike (Organised Labour), Mike Opia, (Civil Society Organisations), Mrs Chinasa Añunobi (National Health Insurance Scheme).
Three other persons will represent the three Senatorial Districts of the state.
The Council was inaugurated at Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, by Gov. Willie Obiano.
He notes: “the beauty of the scheme is that it will help to ensure that many people who ordinarily would not have used the services of health facilities in the state, even when they are sick due to a lack of funds, will now be able to access quality Medicare at no cost.’’
Gov. Obiano observed that the council would among other things, assist in selecting health facilities to be accredited for use under the scheme, saying that the next step would be to upgrade some of the facilities.
He said the various health institutions, which his administration had ensured their accreditation, would have to be provided the right manpower to meet the standards required by the scheme.
The governor urged the council to immediately speed up action to devise strategies on how the scheme would be sustained.
He re-assured that his government would, with immediate effect, provide the initial N200 million required to kick-start the process.
Earlier, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu observed that the scheme was part of institutional reforms, which the present administration brought to the state’s health sector.
According to him, the scheme came about as a viable option for addressing the burden of health-financing militating against effective healthcare delivery in the state.
The Chairman of the Council, Dr Umezoke while describing the scheme as evidence of the governor’s love and concern for the health of `Ndi Anambra’, expressed gratitude to him for finding them worthy to serve the state in that capacity.
He assured that his council would deliver on the mandate.
