4,000 retirees enrol in Enugu free health insurance scheme

No fewer than 4,000 retirees in Enugu State have enrolled in the state government’s free State Universal Health Insurance programme.

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, Edith Okolo, the chief executive officer of the Enugu State Agency for Universal Health Coverage (ESA-UHC), said the initiative was part of the state government’s effort to ensure that every resident had access to health insurance.

Ms 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.

Ms Okolo said the insurance package covered treatment at primary healthcare centres as well as referrals to specialists and other participating hospitals.

She listed the benefits as including 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 access 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.

Ms Okolo further urged beneficiaries who were asked to pay for services covered by the scheme to contact the agency through its toll-free number for assistance, stressing that the intervention was not a one-off.

Why pensioners were initially reluctant to enrol – Union leader

The State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Ikechukwu Ekere, commended the state government for making the enrolment free for pensioners.

Mr Ekere said the pensioners had initially been reluctant to join the scheme when they were informed they would be required to pay N1,000 per month.

He said the state government subsequently agreed to bear the cost of the enrolment for pensioners following appeals by the union.

Mr 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, Godwin Abumisi, described the initiative as an example of development that might not always be physically visible but could have a significant impact on people’s lives.

Mr Abumisi said development should be measured not only by roads, bridges, schools and hospitals but also by policies and programmes that directly improve citizens’ welfare.

He commended Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State for including pensioners in the state’s health insurance programme, saying the initiative demonstrated attention to retirees’ welfare.

However, Mr Abumisi also appealed to the state government to address outstanding pension and gratuity arrears owed to pensioners, citing section 173 of the Nigerian 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.

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The Special Adviser to Governor Mbah on Labour Union and Association Matters, Chukwudi Ezinwa, and the Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Local Government Staff Pensions Board, 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)