By Alex Enebeli
No fewer than 4,000 retirees in Enugu State have enrolled in the free state Universal Health Insurance programme of the state government.
The exercise, held on Thursday at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, attracted pensioners from the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.
Speaking at the event, Dr Edith Okolo, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Enugu State Agency for Universal Health Coverage (ESA-UHC), Dr Edith Okolo, said the initiative was part of the state government’s effort to ensure that every resident had access to health insurance.
Okolo said pensioners were being prioritised because they were considered vulnerable members of society and should not be required to pay for the coverage.
“To be precise, our mandate is to ensure that every resident of Enugu State is covered by health insurance.
“What is actually happening is that we are now reaching out and expanding coverage to people who were not previously captured,” she said.
She said the state government had made it possible for all pensioners resident in Enugu State, irrespective of their state of origin, to access free health insurance.
“As of today, we have registered over 4,000 of them. But you know, in Enugu State, there are more than 20,000 pensioners.
“We want those who have not registered to come out. You have nothing to lose because nobody is taking any money from you,” she said.
Okolo said the insurance package covered treatment at primary healthcare centres as well as referrals to specialist and other participating hospitals.
She listed the benefits to include admission, laboratory tests, drugs and treatment for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, malaria and arthritis, as well as some surgical procedures.
She also encouraged pensioners to register at their nearest primary healthcare centres to begin accessing the services.
According to her, the agency had also introduced health checks as part of the programme, including blood pressure and blood sugar level measurements.
“So many people had high blood pressure and were not aware. That is why regular health checks are important,” she said.
Okolo further urged beneficiaries who were asked to pay for services covered by the scheme to contact the agency through its toll-free number, 0800 003 200, for assistance, stressing that intervention was not a one-off intervention.
The State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Comrade Ikechukwu Ekere, commended the state government for making the enrolment free for pensioners.
Ekere said the pensioners had initially been reluctant to join the scheme when they were informed that they would be required to pay N1,000 monthly.
He said the state government subsequently agreed to bear the cost of the enrolment for pensioners following appeals by the union.
Ekere said the free enrolment had encouraged more pensioners in the local government and primary school sectors to register, adding that the state pensioners had also commenced enrolment.
In his remarks, the National President of the NUP, Comrade Godwin Abumisi, described the initiative as an example of development that might not always be physically visible but could have significant impact on people’s lives.
Abumisi said development should not only be measured by roads, bridges, schools and hospitals but also by policies and programmes that directly improve the welfare of citizens.
He commended Gov. Peter Mbah for including pensioners in the state’s health insurance programme, saying the initiative demonstrated attention to the welfare of retirees.
However, Abumisi also appealed to the state government to address outstanding pension and gratuity arrears owed to pensioners, citing section 173 of the Nigeria constitution, which provides for pension rights and periodic review of pensions.
He specifically appealed to the state government to implement the N32,000 minimum pension for pensioners in Enugu State, while urging the administration to continue efforts to clear outstanding arrears.
The Special Adviser to Mbah on Labour Union and Association Matters, Mr Chukwudi Ezinwa, and the Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Local Government Staff Pensions Board, Dr Eric Oluedo, also spoke to the pensioners.
In their separate speeches, they assured the pensioners of the administration’s commitment to addressing the backlog of pension and gratuity arrears.
They appealed to the pensioners to remain patient, saying the administration was working to improve their welfare and make them smile.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Maureen Atuonwu