From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Abia State Government said it has set aside N500 million for the formal roll out of health Insurance Scheme for civil servants in the State.
Commissioner for Information and Culture, Okey Kanu, told newsmen in Umuahia that the insurance scheme that has seen Government providing N500m counterpart funding, would enable civil servants to enjoy medical services from service providers.
He stated that the governor has decided to provide 2.5 percent of the 5 percent required by the workers for registration into the scheme as a way to encourage them to enrol.
“By this development, all the state civil servants are supposed to enroll in the scheme.
“Usually, they’re supposed to contribute 5 percent from their basic salary every month but the Governor has agreed to pay 2.5 percent of that instead of 5 percent to encourage them to enrol in this scheme,” Kanu said.
The government has also approved the comprehensive upgrade and remodeling of Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba to a befitting medical institution.
The Information Commissioner said the upgrade was in line with the Governor’s transformation agenda in the health sector.
He equally announced that the Abia State Specialist Hospital, Umuahia has regained its Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria’s accreditation status for the training of medical interns.
Kanu said the accreditation came with an increase in the training quota from 24 to 36 of the interns, describing this as a major milestone in the health sector of the state.