Ebonyi:Pregnant Women Enrolled in Health Insurance
A Non-Governmental Organisation and foundation has begun the enrollment of all pregnant women into the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency for better Health of Women in rural areas, Children and Internally Displaced Persons.
The wife of the state governor, Mrs Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, revealed this on friday while flagging off the exercise at the Maternal Child Healthcare, Azuiyiokwu, Abakaliki.
She said the programme would offer free antenatal and delivery to women, adding that it is meant to ensure that all pregnant women in the state have access to essential prenatal and delivery care services.
According to her, the exercise will be conducted in 171 wards across the 13 local government areas of the state.
“Empowering pregnant women with health insurance is allowing them to make informed decisions about their health and that of their unborn children.
Read Also:
“It is also a proactive measure to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates, save precious lives and ensure that families remain whole and happy,” she said.
The Executive Secretary, EBSHIA, Dr Divine Igwe, said that the enrollment covers the beginning of the pregnancy till delivery.
He said mothers who have been delivered of their babies would remain in the portal of the agency for six weeks, after which they would be expunged to accommodate other pregnant women.
According to him, to fight poverty, financial risk protection should be considered if the maternal mortality rate is to be curtailed in the state.
“We also need to tackle ignorance through advocacy and launch of health education in rural areas,” Igwe added.
Lastly, the Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Dr Moses Ekuma, said the enrolment of pregnant women into health insurance was the first step in preventing deaths in pregnancy.
