...records 549,653 healthcare services, 150,640 maternal interventions, 1,450 surgeries in four years; calls on wealthy individuals, organisations to sponsor vulnerable residents
The Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency (EBSHIA) has disclosed that its enrolment has increased from 32,149 beneficiaries in 2022 to 166,118 in 2026, representing an increase of approximately 417 per cent, following sustained reforms and expansion of health insurance coverage under Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru's administration.
The agency also disclosed that it recorded 437,027 healthcare encounters and 549,653 healthcare services between 2023 and 2026, highlighting its growing role in improving access to affordable healthcare and protecting households against excessive medical expenses.
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of EBSHIA, Dr Divine Okemefuna Igwe, disclosed this on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, during a press conference in Ebonyi State to present the agency's four-year performance report.
Igwe attributed the progress to the policy direction, institutional support and commitment of Governor Nwifuru to strengthening healthcare financing and expanding access to essential medical services.
He said the administration had created an enabling environment for the agency to expand its programmes, protect vulnerable populations and advance the state's journey towards Universal Health Coverage.
According to him, the agency's enrolment has grown by 133,969 beneficiaries within the period, although the current figure represents approximately 5.2 per cent of Ebonyi's estimated population of 3.2 million.
He described the gap as an indication that more efforts, investments and partnerships would be required to extend health insurance coverage to more residents.
A breakdown of the enrolment showed that the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) accounts for 99,758 beneficiaries, while the Ambassadorial Health Insurance Programme covers 27,478 people.
Others include the Global Fund-supported programme for people living with HIV and tuberculosis patients, 11,163; ONWA Healthcare Formal Sector Programme, 10,085; State Equity Fund, 9,227; Tertiary Institution Social Health Insurance Programme, 5,347; Informal Sector Programme, 2,500; and Primary Healthcare Challenge Fund, 560 beneficiaries.
The EBSHIA boss identified the BHCPF as the largest component of the scheme, noting that its enrolment increased from 29,649 in 2022 to 99,758 in 2026, providing access to essential healthcare for poor and vulnerable residents.
He also highlighted the State Equity Fund, through which 9,227 vulnerable persons have been enrolled, describing it as an important government-backed social protection mechanism for individuals who cannot afford to independently purchase health insurance.
On formal-sector coverage, Igwe said the state government introduced ONWA Healthcare in 2024 to provide health insurance for civil servants and their dependants, with 10,085 beneficiaries currently enrolled.
He disclosed that the agency had also enrolled 5,347 students of Ebonyi State University under its Tertiary Institution Social Health Insurance Programme, with plans to extend the initiative to other tertiary institutions in the state.
The agency's partnership with the Global Fund has equally facilitated the enrolment of 11,163 beneficiaries, including people living with HIV and tuberculosis patients, helping to promote continuity of care and access to broader healthcare services.
Igwe particularly highlighted the Ambassadorial Health Insurance Programme, also known as the Adopt Your Community Health Insurance Initiative, as one of the agency's innovative strategies for expanding coverage.
The programme, which has enrolled 27,478 beneficiaries, provides an opportunity for wealthy individuals, philanthropists, corporate organisations, political leaders and community stakeholders to sponsor health insurance coverage for vulnerable people.
He acknowledged the contributions of the First Lady of Ebonyi State, Chief Mrs Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Ogbonna Nwifuru, whose interventions through the Better Health for Rural Women, Children and Internally Displaced Persons Foundation have supported the enrolment of thousands of vulnerable women, children, elderly persons and other residents.
The EBSHIA chief executive called on well-to-do individuals, business owners, politicians, corporate organisations, community leaders and other public-spirited citizens to partner with the agency by enrolling vulnerable members of their communities into the health insurance scheme.
He stressed that government alone could not shoulder the responsibility of providing financial protection for every resident, urging affluent citizens to adopt families, sponsor vulnerable individuals and support community-based health insurance enrolment.
He noted that such interventions would help prevent families from selling their properties, borrowing money or abandoning medical treatment because of financial difficulties.
On healthcare service utilisation, Igwe disclosed that the agency recorded 150,640 obstetric service records within the four-year period.
These include 114,298 antenatal care services, 33,706 normal deliveries, 2,093 caesarean sections and 543 assisted deliveries.
He said the figures demonstrated the importance of health insurance in reducing the financial burden associated with pregnancy, childbirth and emergency obstetric care.
The agency also recorded 1,450 surgical cases under its major surgical categories, comprising 855 hernia surgeries, 337 fibroid surgeries, 243 appendectomies and 15 lump removal procedures.
In addition, 12 specialised surgical cases were supported, covering procedures such as hip replacement, brain surgery, thyroidectomy, mastectomy, hysterectomy and prostatectomy, among others.
Igwe further disclosed that EBSHIA recorded 226,560 communicable disease service cases during the period under review, underscoring its involvement in the management of communicable diseases.
He explained that the interventions were designed to ensure that beneficiaries could access necessary medical services without being exposed to excessive out-of-pocket expenditure.
Despite the achievements, the EBSHIA boss acknowledged that the agency still faces significant challenges, particularly the low proportion of the state's population currently covered by health insurance.
With 166,118 beneficiaries representing approximately 5.2 per cent of an estimated 3.2 million residents, he said expanding coverage remained a major priority.
He identified the informal sector as one of the most challenging areas, noting that the programme currently covers only 2,500 beneficiaries despite the large population of traders, artisans, farmers and other self-employed residents.
He said expanding coverage in the sector would require sustained community sensitisation, flexible enrolment arrangements, effective contribution collection mechanisms, public trust and appropriate premium financing.
The agency also identified the need for predictable and adequate funding of the State Equity Fund to guarantee sustainable protection for vulnerable populations.
Igwe emphasised that increasing enrolment must go hand in hand with improved healthcare service delivery, quality assurance and effective purchasing of healthcare services.
He maintained that the agency's ultimate responsibility was not merely to register beneficiaries but to ensure that enrolment translated into accessible, timely and quality healthcare.
The EBSHIA chief executive expressed appreciation to Governor Nwifuru for providing the policy direction and institutional support that have strengthened the agency's operations.
He also commended the First Lady for her humanitarian contributions towards extending health insurance protection to vulnerable populations through her foundation and the Ambassadorial Health Insurance Programme.
He acknowledged the support of the Commissioner for Health, EBSHIA Governing Board, development partners, healthcare providers, traditional and religious institutions, community leaders and agency staff.
Igwe reaffirmed the agency's commitment to expanding enrolment, strengthening healthcare financing and ensuring that more Ebonyi residents benefit from affordable and accessible healthcare.
He said the agency would continue to pursue strategic partnerships with government institutions, private organisations, philanthropists and community stakeholders to accelerate the state's progress towards Universal Health Coverage.
He reiterated that the ultimate goal of EBSHIA remained to ensure that no Ebonyi resident is denied essential healthcare because of financial hardship.
Over 50 beneficiaries were on ground to testify to the public how Impactful the health insurance packages have been on them.
They were good will messages from IOCs, special assistant to the Governor on primary health, health partners and Nigeria Union of Journalist NUJ.
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