One thousand indigent and vulnerable people in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State on Monday heaved a sign of relief, especially in caring for their health, following the payment of health insurance premium worth N7 million for them by the Director General of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission, Dr Isaac Akpoveta.
Speaking on behalf of the people, the President General of the community, Mr Godfrey Etabuko, applauded the donor’s magnanimity for making health available to the people.
He said, “On behalf of the community, we commend you for this kind gesture of bringing life into the community.
“This will go a long way in making our community healthier, especially at this critical time when indigents cannot afford healthcare services because of the hardship facing them.”
He urged the community to key into the scheme, saying that giving free medical treatment to 1,000 persons in the community in a year was a good initiative.
In his remarks, the representative of the World Health Organization, Dr. David Tajovo, said the organization was already in partnership with the commission to alleviate the sufferings of the people in the healthcare delivery system.
He called on other well-meaning individuals and organizations to support the scheme to ensure that the free medical treatment does not end after one year.
Presenting the health insurance card to the beneficiaries during the flag-off at Ofuoma in Ugheli, the DG of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission, Dr Akpoveta, said the gesture was to enrich their lives.
He said, “Today, my immediate family and I have decided to enrich the lives of vulnerable and indigent persons in and around my community of Ofuoma.
“The crowd you see here comes from Ofuoma and its neighboring communities of Odovie, Emeragha, Ogbowan, Afiesere, and Ughelli Town.
“Here are 1000 indigent persons for whom the Akpoveta family, nationally and in diaspora, has enrolled into the Delta State Health Insurance Scheme at the premium rate of 7,000 naira per individual.
“With this insurance card, they will receive quality healthcare services from any healthcare facility of their choice for one year.”
He said that the Akpoveta family has demonstrated by adopting and enrolling 1,000 indigents, highlighting the concept of collective responsibility, which he said creates a powerful and positive impact on individuals and communities alike.
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