As part of efforts to promote the state’s Social Health Insurance Scheme, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma has approved free medical care for workers in the state’s workforce.
According to him, the gesture was part of effort to ensure that civil servants in the state remained healthy and well positioned to carry out their duties.
“I’ve been told it would cost N500 million to sustain this health insurance but that notwithstanding, I remain committed to it,” Uzodimma said.
Uzodimma who gave the approval at a town hall meeting he held with top management staff of the Imo Civil Service, in Owerri said more than 47,000 verified workers in the state would be captured by the scheme.
He directed the state’s Ministry of Health to immediately commence the process of getting all verified workers into the free medical scheme.
And also workers at both state and Local Government levels, would be beneficiaries of the medical care from government-owned hospitals and designated private hospitals.
“Health is wealth. We, therefore, remain committed to improving the health and by extension the productivity of civil servants in our state’s workforce, he said.
The state’s Head of Service, Raymond Ucheoma, commended the Governor for the kindness and untiring support to the welfare of workers.
He described the gesture as “a historic landmark and one of a kind”, noting that the promise would reinvigorate workers to continue putting in their best.
Uzodimma reassured workers who were due for promotion that they would all be promoted to boost their morale.
He also said that the shortfall in the number of teachers required by the Imo State Education Management Board (SEMB) would soon be a thing of the past as the government had finalised plans to engage more teachers.
This article was originally published on Naija News
