By Chisom Okafor :
No fewer than 700 Nnobi indigenes have been enrolled into the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA).
The sponsors of this enrollment includes; Sir Pius Ufudo Foundation, Nnobi US Diaspora Health Group, and Okigbo family.
The event, held at Sir Pius Ufudo Complex in St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Nnobi featured a sensitization session by ASHIA representative, Dr Ngozi Ifediora.
Dr. Ifediora assured that ASHIA facilities in the community can handle the enrollees health issues, and will make referrals when need arises.
She noted that there will be a monitoring team to ensure that the enrollees make good use of the opportunity, especially for medical checkups, adding that those found wanting shall be replaced, saying that there is a plan to ensure that ASHIA beneficiaries access healthcare services in any part of the country.
On his part, an indigenous private medical practitioner with facility in the community, Dr Mike Omenugha, who gave testimonies of benefits of the scheme to ASHIA beneficiaries, thanked the sponsors for their humanitarian gesture, calling for people to regularly do medical checkups, avoid self-medication and patronizing quacks.
Some beneficiaries, including Mr Gilbert Oguegbulu and Mrs Lucy Obeleagu commended their benefactors for the opportunity to access quality healthcare at little or no cost. Some of the 464 ASHIA beneficiaries of the previous year, attended the event.
*Chisom is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State.