A Non-Governmental Organisation, Better Health for Rural Women, Children and Internally Displaced Persons Foundation has begun the enrolment of all pregnant women into the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency.
This was revealed on Friday by the wife of the state governor, Mrs Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, 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.
“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 enrolment 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.
Speaking also, 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.
(NAN)
