The Anambra government has intensified efforts to expand its health insurance coverage by partnering with market associations to bring enrolment services closer to traders and their families.

The executive secretary of the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA), Augustine Ezeka, disclosed this at a meeting with the executives of the Anambra State Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA) in Awka on Monday.

Mr Ezeka said the engagement was intended to strengthen collaboration with market executives to make enrolment in the scheme more accessible to members of the trading community.

He said that many traders found it difficult to enrol because of the demands of their businesses and the limited time available to visit registration centres.

To address the challenge, he said ASHIA planned to establish enrolment points in major markets in the state.

He promised that the agency would deploy dedicated enrolment officers to markets to register traders and their dependants, thereby improving access to affordable healthcare services.

“The initiative is designed to ensure that traders can conveniently enrol in the scheme without leaving their businesses for long periods,” he said.

Responding, the president-general of ASMATA, Humphrey Anuna, welcomed the initiative and pledged the association’s full support for its implementation.

Mr Anuna commended the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo for sustaining the scheme, describing it as “a life-saving intervention” that had benefited many people.

He also appreciated Mr Ezeka for his commitment to expanding access to the scheme and expressed confidence that the market-based enrolment strategy would boost participation among traders.

Also speaking, the chairman of the Old and New Motorcycle Spare Parts Market in Nkpor, Stephen Onungene, lauded ASHIA’s efforts, saying he had personally experienced the programme’s positive impact.

Mr Onungene urged the agency to include his market as one of the first beneficiaries of the proposed initiative.

Similarly, the secretary of Abada Market, Okafor Roland, assured the agency of the cooperation of market leaders and pledged support for the sensitisation campaign. 

(NAN)