…Insures Over 200 Pregnant Women, Children
BY JUMAI NWACHUKWU
THE Delta State Government has reiterated its commitment to providing quality and accessible healthcare for all, while emphasizing that ongoing free services for pregnant women and children under five years of age will be sustained.
The Director-General of Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC), Dr. Isaac Akpoveta gave the assurance while addressing over 200 pregnant women who came to register for the Equity Insurance Plan.
According to Akpoveta, the registration aligned with the Commission’s latest policy aimed at enhancing documentation of beneficiaries under the free healthcare scheme.
Akpoveta disclosed that the Commission has introduced an ante-natal registration policy for every pregnant woman in the state to prevent the influx of non-residents into Delta’s public health facilities. He explained that many pregnant women from neighbouring states had previously taken advantage of the free health scheme by seeking care only at the point of delivery. The new policy, he said, would ensure that only Delta State residents benefit from the programme.
He noted that the overwhelming turnout of pregnant women for registration was a testament to the significance of the Equity Health Insurance Plan and how well the people are benefitting from Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda. He also highlighted that the registration process was taking place simultaneously across all public health facilities in the state.
Akpoveta further stated that Delta remained the only state in the country where the Equity Health Plan was functioning on such a large scale, attributing its success to Governor Oborevwori’s unwavering support for the Commission. He said that the governor is fully committed to reducing maternal mortality and ensuring that no woman in Delta State loses her life during childbirth.
Many of the women who registered praised the state government for easing their financial burden throughout pregnancy to delivery. They described the registration process as stress-free and expressed gratitude to the commission for the initiative, which allows them to access quality healthcare at no cost.
The commission earlier announced that without a health insurance card, no pregnant woman would be eligible for free medical care in the state. It maintained that this policy reinforces the state government’s commitment to structured healthcare delivery to ensure that resources are directed according to need.
