The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Enugu State, has continued to sustain its strategic partnership with the Government of Enugu State through the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency for the provision of obstetrics ultrasound services in all the Primary Health Centers across the state.

Speaking during a Supportive Supervisory Visit to one of the newly constructed and fully equipped Type 2 PHCs located at Emene, as well as the enrollment of 5,000 residents of Enugu East LGA into the State Health Insurance Scheme, the Enugu State Chairman of the NMA, Dr. Sunny Okafor, emphasized the need for the provision of obstetrics scanning services, especially for women attending antenatal clinics at the Primary Health Centers (PHCs).

He further reiterated the relentless support and commitment of the Association to sustain its progressive partnership with the state government in this regard.

The plan, he said, was to create a schedule and dedicate at least one day for all the booked eligible pregnant women in each PHC.

“We, therefore, once more, encourage all pregnant women and citizens of the state to avail themselves of the veritable opportunity of enrolling in the State Health Insurance and enjoy the range of services that have been made available for them,” he said.

He commended the Chairman of Enugu East Local Government Area, Beloved Dan Anike, for enrolling 5,000 residents in the State Health Insurance Scheme.

Anike, in his speech, stated that the free health insurance scheme, which kicks off in April, would allow residents aged 60 years and above, as well as childbearing women, to receive medical care in state health facilities free of charge as long as they are registered in the scheme.

He stated that his administration had worked out modalities to ensure that the scheme runs for the next year and continues thereafter in the council.

He said that the scheme was part of efforts to key into the various projects of Governor Peter Mbah in raising the health standards of the people of the state.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of Enugu State Primary Healthcare, Dr. Ifeanyi Ani-Osheku, explained that the Type 2 hospital project embarked upon by Governor Mbah, to be completed in the 260 electoral wards, would be finished in record time.

She stated that already, 60 out of the total have been fully completed and equipped, stressing that the idea was to ensure good health for the people of Enugu State.

Ani-Osheku added that the operation of the hospitals would reduce pressure on tertiary hospitals and discourage people from seeking medical care outside healthcare facilities.

She said that the agency was also matching the hospitals with the provision of adequate manpower, adding that in the last year, it had recruited over 200 medical workers to ensure adequate healthcare services.

She appealed to residents of the state to always make use of the health facilities being provided by the government to address their healthcare needs.