10,000 Residents Enjoy Free Medical Programme In Rivers

No fewer than 10,000 persons resident in Rivers State, enjoy the free medical programme introduced by the government in the state.

A breakdown of the figure showed that 8,403 are regular persons that had access to the programme since its inception in 2000, while 1,023 are new registration captured by the programme within the last July 2011 in all the available facilities throughout the state.

The permanent secretary in charge of the programme in the state Ministry of Health, Dr. (Mrs) Stella Toby who disclosed this in an exclusive interview last Wednesday, in Port Harcourt, explained that.  Before now, the programme were enjoyed by children below the ages of six years and adults ages 60 years and above.

However, she said when the present administration came into office, the Free Medical Care Programme is made available for all ages including indigenes and non indigenes resident in the state.

According to her for resident to enjoy the Free Medical Care Programme certain registration requirements are necessary, they include; two passport photographs, proof of residence in Rivers State, through any of the following, utility bill, drivers licence, national identity card, international passport, letter of verification by CDC chairman or ward councilor of area of residence among others for adults ages 18 years and above. While for children from birth to 18 years need two passport photographs, birth certificate or age declaration.

Dr. Toby further gave clarification for students under 18 years, saying, they should have two passport photographs, identity or letter of introduction from school, signed and stamped by school head among other documents from parents.

Before now, she noted, facilities available for the Free Medical care Programme were 37 in both government hospitals and Health Centres across the 23 local government areas.

But today, the programme has expanded with a capacity of  over 112 facilities in all government owned hospital except Niger Hospital, which is undergoing expansion programme.

On why most residents are yet to benefit or aware of the Free Medical Care Programme of state government, the health boss said, awareness would soon be created through the media and radio jingles to enable more residents enjoy the facilities.

She maintained that one of the requirements necessary for registration is the social service  contributary levy just introduced by the state government for all category of workers both in the informal and formal sector.

She said that HIV/AIDS are not provided for in the programme because the state government is already running a free treatment programme for those under this category.

On why the state government has not key into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Toby said, the law establishing the scheme does not make it mandatory but optional for state or local government area to key into the scheme.

Besides she noted, the state governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi declared free health for all residents of Rivers State both indigenes and non indigenes.

It will be recalled that the state government had already approved over N400 million in the 2011 budget estimated for its Free Medical Care Programmes.