By Kelechi Ugo.

The Senator Representing Imo East Senatorial District ( Owerri Zone) in the Red Chamber of National Assembly, Distinguished Senator Ezenwa  Onyewuchi has reiterated his  desire to bring good Health and standard well-being of the people of Owerri zone through  collaboration with  Imo State Health Insurance Agency.

Senator Onyewuchi pointed out that his decisions to enroll his constituents into the State health insurance scheme is to actualize his sustainable health interventions for the Owerri zone to complement his earlier free medical care programmes for constituents.

 Recall that Senator Ezenwa and his entourage had on Thursday 15th February,2024 visited the State owned Health Insurance Agency located at Ochiedike Dialysis Centre, New Owerri,Imo State where modalities of enrolling especially those from informal sector in Owerri Zone were discussed.

Senator Onyewuchi explained that,he got to know that Imo State Government under Governor Hope Uzodimma had done tremendous work in the health sector and particularly, in the health insurance scheme.  He commended the Governor for putting the State in the good record because,Imo state was cited as a good example of the State that is doing well in terms of Health Insurance Scheme and promised to  partner with the Agency for sustainable healthcare of his people.

Distinguished Senator Onyewuchi said his key objective for seeking a working relationship with the agency,is to make his health interventions scheme for his Senatorial District  more sustainable.

He disclosed that sustainable healthcare of his people remains one of his core interventions projects since he became a lawmaker expressing dissatisfaction that the absence of  mechanisms and facilities have negative impacted on his efforts to make  available quality and affordable healthcare provisions to his constituents.

The Federal Lawmaker expressed delight with the enormous stride the Agency has already made within its short time of existence and further reassured his readiness to work together with the Health Insurance Agency so as to deepen sustainable access to healthcare within the nine Council Areas in  Owerri zone.

Towards actualizing that objective, Distinguished Senator Onyewuchi said that he will set up a team that will work with the Management of the Agency so as to come up with a blueprint for the effective and efficient implementation of the scheme in Owerri Zone.

In his presentation, Dr Patrick Iwuchukwu,Head of Department of Standards and Quality Assurance in the Agency, and Dr Chinedu Ofurum, Chairman Technical Working Group, TWG, of Imo Health Insurance Scheme, lauded the lawmaker for his outstanding performances and quest  to attract good dividends of democracy to his constituents.

They extensively briefed him on the achievements so far recorded by the Agency which includes creation of four implementation zones of Orlu 1, Orlu2, Owerri and Okigwe Zones, successful accreditation of one hundred and thirty three health facilities and successful enrollment of sixty six while the prices for the enrollment for the family of 4 persons is #60, 000. Sixty Thousand Naira only and 15000 Fifteen Thousand Naira per individual and explained to him on the need for communal or bulk enrollment to help the Agency facilitate the scheme.

Furthermore, Dr Iwuchukwu explained that the Agency has representatives in the 27 Council Areas of the State that monitor and evaluate activities of the beneficiaries both in the primary and secondary health centres and pointed out that the Agency also monitors the treatment of the patients in accordance with the established treatment agreement. He also said that the Agency is taking on all type of aliments including Surgeries except organs transplant.