Anambra State Govt Launches Electronic Wallet Under State Health Insurance Scheme .
By Monic Okechukwu
Anambra State Government on Saturday, 11th September 2021, launched the Mobile Health Insurance Platform.
This is an electronic wallet that operates under the state Health Insurance Agency, ASHIA, aimed at catering for the health needs of the people especially the vulnerable.
The launch attracted the United Nation’s Coordinator on Humanitarian Affairs in Nigeria, Mr Edward Kallon, officials of World Health Organization, WHO, European Union, EU, and the United Nations Education Fund, UNICEF, team led by the Communication Officer, Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe.
Prior to the launch, the visiting team, accompanied by the governor and his aides, including Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, SSAs, SAs, and Directors, inspected some ongoing projects including the Data Operations Canter at the Ministry of Health, Anambra State Health Insurance Agency, as well as the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport at Umueri, Anambra East Council Area.
Speaking later while launching the State Mobile Health Insurance Platform at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, Governor Willie Obiano affirmed that the Insurance Scheme has greatly engendered quality healthcare delivery, as citizens and residents now have access to easy and affordable health care services.
The Governor also spoke on the establishment of Oxygen Plant and other health facilities which he described as innovative and legacy projects of his administration.
He further explained that as a result of the provision of the Oxygen Plant which has a daily capacity of six hundred cylinders, oxygen could now be supplied free of charge to hospitals and other health facilities in the state and could as well be extended to neighbouring states, as was the case at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Governor Obiano encouraged Ndi Anambra who are yet to key into ASHIA, to do so, to benefit from the programme.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala hinted that other states now come to understudy as well as adopt the Anambra model of ASHIA, and appealed to the UN to include Anambra in the Malaria funding just like every other state in the Country.
In an expository presentation on the operations of the Health Insurance Scheme, the Executive Secretary of ASHIA, Dr Simeon Onyemaechi, who joined virtually, said the Governor mandated them to give quality and accessible healthcare to the citizens with equity in mind, which culminated in the establishment of topnotch models by the Agency.
Dr Onyemaechi contended that with the electronic wallet, once the enrollee pays his or her premium of twelve thousand naira a year, which can be done in instalments, such a person can then begin to access the scheme, urging the affluent to register for indigent persons around them.
He explained that from next week, outlets, where their vouchers will be sold, will begin to spring up across the state, stressing that it can also be accessed with ATM Cards.
In his speech, the United Nations Coordinator on Humanitarian Affairs in the country, Dr Kallon, who enrolled one hundred people from the disability community, stressed the need to adopt measures that would ensure sustainability as well as target the most vulnerable.
He commended Governor Obiano for his ingenuity in security architecture and development and expressed the intention of the United Nations to for an increased partnership with the state.
Dr Kallon later honoured Governor Obiano as “Champion of Sustainable Development”, in recognition of his numerous achievements in the state.
Demonstration of the working of the USSD, enrolments of the aged, people living with HIV, single mothers, among others, featured during the event.
With the successful launch, Ndi Anambra can now access healthcare through the ASHIA scheme, by punching in USSD code 10701# on their mobile phones.
Speaking in an interview, the UNICEF Communication Officer (Advocacy, Media, And External Relations), UNICEF Enugu, Mrs Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe, who led the UN High Powered Media Team, noted the importance of the media in educating, sensitizing and mobilizing relevant groups in sending the messages across to yield desired results and achieve set objectives.
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