By James Ndubuisi Nwakpa
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency (EBSHIA), Dr. Divine Okemefuna Igwe, has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to advancing the People’s Charter of Needs policy framework of the Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, through the sustained expansion of health insurance coverage across the state.
Dr. Igwe gave the assurance recently in Abakaliki during the event of over 10,000 Beneficiaries Solidarity Walk and Endorsement Rally for the unanimously adoption of Governor Nwifuru as their preferred governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Addressing the mammoth gathering, the EBSHIA Chief Executive extolled Governor Nwifuru’s transformational leadership in the health sector, describing his administration’s investment in Universal Health Coverage as unprecedented in the state’s history. According to him, the governor’s strategic interventions have significantly strengthened the healthcare delivery system by making quality medical services more affordable, accessible, and inclusive for residents, particularly the vulnerable and economically disadvantaged.
Dr. Igwe explained that the overwhelming endorsement of Governor Nwifuru was a reflection of the tangible impact his administration has made through EBSHIA, noting that thousands of beneficiaries who previously lacked access to essential healthcare services have received life-saving medical treatments without experiencing financial hardship.
He disclosed that patients suffering from hypertension, diabetes, eye-related ailments, hernia, fibroid, appendicitis, sickle cell disease, malaria, and several other medical conditions have benefited immensely from the agency’s intervention, restoring hope to countless families across the state.
In separate goodwill messages, the Permanent Secretary of the Ebonyi State Ministry of Health, Dr. Lawrence Ezogo; the Chairman of the EBSHIA Governing Board, Hon. Mrs. Elizabeth Ogbaga; and the Chairman of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Hon. Mrs. Esther Agwu, unanimously described the endorsement as well-deserved. They maintained that Governor Nwifuru’s remarkable achievements in strengthening the healthcare sector have distinguished his administration as one genuinely committed to improving the welfare of the people.
Beneficiaries drawn from the thirteen local government areas of Ebonyi State also expressed profound appreciation to Governor Nwifuru for what they described as a life-changing healthcare initiative. They reaffirmed their confidence in his leadership and pledged their continued support for his administration.
Representing Governor Nwifuru at the event, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State, Hon. Stanley Okoro Emegha, commended EBSHIA and the beneficiaries for their demonstration of gratitude and solidarity. He assured the gathering that the present administration would remain steadfast in implementing people-oriented policies and programmes aimed at improving the quality of life of Ebonyi citizens.
The high point of the event was the formal presentation of a Certificate of Endorsement to Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, alongside special intercessory prayers led by Pastor Eunice Oyeyemi, which was offered for the continued success of his administration and the sustained peace, progress, and development of Ebonyi State.
