Delta Flags-Off Health Insurance Enrollment Of Vulnerable, Indigent Deltans In Okpe Community

By Patrick Ochei

The Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC) has flagged off a health insurance scheme program tagged *Indigent Enrollee Adoption Initiative* for indigent and vulnerable Deltans at Jeddo Community in Okpe local government area of the State.

The program which was flagged off on Thursday 23rd November, 2023, by the Director General of the Commission, Olorogun Dr. Isaac Akpoveta, registered 100 persons which was sponsored by an illustrious Okpe born philanthropist and veteran journalist, Mr. Mideno Bayagbon.

Dr. Akpoveta while unveiling the programme, commended the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for being the brain behind the efficiency and effectiveness of the scheme.

He said the Governor had promised to do more for Deltans in his policies and programmes, and one of the areas he has eminently focused on, is the health sector, especially with high regards to the health insurance scheme.

The highbrow medical administrator went further to praise the philanthropic gestures of Mr. Bayagbon who volunteered to sponsor the enrollment of 100 indigent and vulnerable Jeddo indigenes into the informal sector category of the scheme by paying #7000 (Seven Thousand Naira Only) per person, for 100 persons in the next one year.

According to him, “The 100 persons will be registered today, given cards today and begin to access health care for the next one year, free of charge. This is the first of its kind where indigent enrollees who are vulnerable are adopted by a philanthropist with passion to save life.

“The government of Delta State has done noble since the inception of the health insurance scheme in the State. For every woman that delivers a baby in government hospital, it is free; same as children under five undergoing any form of medical treatment. 

“So far, the Contributory Health Insurance Scheme stands at 1.8 million enrollees. This initiative is to support the efforts of government in covering the vast majority of Deltans in the scheme. We want to see how we can double the number in no distant time. And it is the responsibility of everyone who is well to do, to sponsor two or more persons according to their abilities, as enrollees in the scheme”, Akpoveta posited.

In an interview, the Chairman of Jeddo Community, Mr. Nathaniel Efemiemie commended the sponsor of the programme who is an illustrious son of Okpe land, Mr. Bayagbon for taking up such Godly initiative to cushion the effect of inaccessibility of health care services amongst his people.

He said the end result of Mr. Bayagbon’s gesture would be monumental when measured in monetary terms, thereby urging the vulnerable beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity. 

Efemiemie further called on well-to-do sons and daughters of Jeddo to emulate the humanitarian character of Mr. Bayagbon by keying into the initiative to cover more people in the scheme, for the purpose of accessing cheap and affordable health care services. 

Speaking to Mr. Mideno Bayagbon, he said he did what he did with regards to a scriptural injunction which says “it’s good to do good”.

He affirmed that he only provided the sponsorship of 100 enrollees with specifics of what he wanted, while it was the community that did the selection of beneficiaries.

His words, “It is good to do good with every assistance one can render to the needy. I saw the need to be of help, and I provided the opportunity for the vulnerable elders, widows and physically challenged persons in my community to benefit.

“This is a good scheme, designed to help the ordinary people access adequate and affordable health care services. The government has done well with this scheme and of course, the initiative of getting privileged individuals involved. It’s important to get as much individuals as possible, to enroll into the scheme. And of course, the big people have to support the programme by sponsoring persons who are less privileged. 

“My advice to the beneficiaries as well, is to take the advantage and make good use of it in their own interest”, Bayagbon advised.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to newsmen prayed for more favour on Mr. Bayagbon in all his life’s endeavours. 

A community elder, Mr. Johnson Eyube commended their benefactor for being such a Godsent at this critical time that healthcare services have become so expensive, while a mother, Mrs. Joy Dolor affirmed that Mr. Bayagbon had always shown kindness to his people and prayed that God rewards him.

It was a worthwhile initiative, geared towards making a people healthy in order to capacitate them to contribute meaningfully to the development of their society in sound mind.

Perhaps, observers believed that the former Editor of Vanguard and currently, Publisher of the News.Guru.com would go down in positive side of history for thinking the health of his people over and above the usual giveaway of peanuts.