Ebonyi Gov't To Enroll 29,000 HIV Patients In Health Insurance Scheme
The Executive Secretary of the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency (EBSHIA), Dr. Divine Igwe, has announced that 29,000 persons living with HIV in the state will be enrolled free of charge into the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Scheme.
Dr. Igwe made this known during a conference organized by the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWAN), where he assured beneficiaries of free and comprehensive medical care without any co-payment at the point of service.
He described the initiative as a bold statement of compassion and inclusion, reflecting the state government’s commitment to ensuring that no Ebonyian is denied healthcare due to financial constraints.
The EBSHIA boss commended Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for his magnanimity and visionary leadership in approving the free healthcare coverage for this vulnerable group.
According to him, the enrolment is being facilitated through a Global Fund project in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme (NTBLCP).
“To make this process seamless, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is partnering with us to ensure that anyone without a National Identification Number (NIN) can obtain it during registration,” he said.
Dr. Igwe explained that once registration is completed, beneficiaries will receive a health insurance ID card granting them access to accredited healthcare facilities across the state.
“To avoid stigmatization, our ID cards are identical to the general health insurance cards. There is no distinction or special marking — everyone is treated with equal dignity and confidentiality,” he added.
He further assured beneficiaries that their personal data and health information are highly protected and encrypted, emphasizing that no unauthorized person will have access to their records.
In his remarks, the NEPWAN Coordinator, Comrade Chukwuma Nwafor, described the development as extraordinary, noting that it would bring significant relief to persons living with HIV.
He praised Governor Nwifuru’s administration for ensuring that medical services are provided free of charge, adding that the responsibility now lies with beneficiaries to take full advantage of the opportunity.
Source: The Guardian
