ABIA MOVES TO INSURE THE FUTURE AS STATE GOVT FLAGS-OFF MASS HEALTH INSURANCE ENROLLMENT FOR ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL PUPILS AND STUDENTS ACROSS 17 LGAs

The Abia State Health Insurance Agency (ABSHIA) has unveiled plans to commence a comprehensive statewide mass enrollment of pupils and students in all public primary and secondary schools across the 17 local government areas of the state, marking a major milestone in child welfare and public health delivery.

The initiative will be implemented under the Students Vulnerable Groups Social Health Insurance Programme (SVG-SHIP), a flagship intervention designed to guarantee eligible pupils and students access to primary and secondary healthcare services at zero cost to parents and guardians.

Speaking during a recent radio engagement on the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of ABSHIA, Dr. Chidoziem Egwuonwu, explained that the programme aligns directly with the education and social protection agenda of Governor Alex Chioma Otti, particularly the policy on compulsory school enrollment for all school-age children in the state.

According to him, the insurance scheme is strategically structured to eliminate health-related challenges that often disrupt school attendance and negatively affect academic performance, especially among children from vulnerable and low-income backgrounds. By integrating healthcare access with education, the state government aims to ensure that no child is forced out of school due to preventable or treatable health conditions.

Dr. Egwuonwu disclosed that the agency had earlier completed a six-month pilot phase of the programme, during which approximately 17,000 pupils and students from public primary and secondary schools across all 17 local government areas were successfully enrolled. The pilot phase, he noted, provided critical data on the programme’s feasibility, sustainability, operational efficiency and overall impact, with outcomes described as highly encouraging.

Under the full rollout, all enrolled students will be formally linked to Primary Health Centres located closest to their respective schools. This arrangement is expected to promote timely access to healthcare services, reduce emergency health risks and strengthen school–community health collaboration. The programme will operate using a fee-for-service payment model rather than the traditional capitation system, a move designed to enhance transparency, accountability and quality of service delivery.

The ABSHIA leadership acknowledged that the progress recorded so far has been driven largely by the strong political will of Governor Alex Otti and the consistent release of funds by the state government, which has made both the pilot phase and the planned expansion possible.

Dr. Egwuonwu also appealed to critical stakeholders, including local government chairmen, traditional rulers, the State Ministry of Basic Education, policymakers, school administrators, healthcare providers and community leaders to actively support and own the initiative to ensure its long-term success.

He emphasized that broad-based collaboration is vital to achieving the programme’s overarching objective of universal healthcare access for children in Abia State, irrespective of socio-economic status.

According to him, investing in the health of schoolchildren today is a direct investment in a healthier, more productive and more competitive Abia of tomorrow.