The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission, Dr. Isaac Akpoveta, has adopted and paid for health insurance for 250 persons with disabilities, drawn from the 25 local government areas of the State.
Dr. Akpoveta announced this when he received, on a courtesy visit, the Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD) at the Commission headquarters in Asaba.
The beneficiaries comprised 10 persons with disabilities drawn from each of the 25 local governments, enabling them to receive quality healthcare services and be protected from the financial hazards of high out-of-pocket medical costs.
Dr. Akpoveta said through initiatives like the Indigent Enrollee Adoption Initiatives, Artisans Enrollee Inducement Initiatives, and TISHIP, the Delta State Health Insurance Commission strives to break down barriers and create a more inclusive healthcare system that caters to the diverse needs of the population.
He acknowledged the unique challenges faced by persons with disabilities, including social stigma, discrimination, and limited access to essential services, adding that it is the collective responsibility of citizens to challenge such barriers and create an inclusive society that respects and values the contributions of every citizen, even as he reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to ensuring their inclusion, support, and equal opportunities within the society.
“In this pursuit, the Delta State Contributory Health Commission Law of December 2019 has taken significant steps to ensure that individuals with disabilities receive the quality healthcare they deserve.
The Equity Health Plan, as stated in section 18 subsection I(a) of the Law, recognizes the vulnerable, which includes pregnant women, children under five (5) years, the elderly over 65 years of age, the physically and mentally challenged, the less privileged, and others,” the DG added.
Dr. Akpoveta also commended His Excellency, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, whose M.O.R.E agenda has provided the platform for all residents of Delta state to have access to quality and affordable healthcare.
He called on philanthropists, High Net-Worth Individuals (HNI), and organizations to come to the aid of people living with disabilities and adopt and purchase health insurance premiums at 7,000 Naira only per person into the DSCHS, as government alone cannot do it all.
Earlier, while revealing the purpose of the visit, the state chairman of Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (PWD), and Special Assistant to the Governor on Disabilities Matters, Comrade Ernest Igbuzor, said the visit was to appeal to the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission to look into the health of Persons With Disabilities.
Comrade Igbuzor noted that the appeal was necessary to get attention from any of the designated central hospitals across the state that when they are sick or down they can give authorization and be attended to, so that they can be healthy and be useful to themselves and Delta state at large.
He also commended the state governor and the chairman of the Commission for their humanitarian support.
Highpoint of the visit was the support of the Directors of the Commission to persons with disabilities.
The Director of Administration and Human Resources, Comrade Martin Bolum, adopted and paid health insurance premiums for 10 persons amounting to N70,000, the Director of Finance and Investment, Mr. Henry Edozie, also paid for 10 persons, while the Director for Legal Services, Richard Nagberi, paid for five persons, amongst other support.
