The Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency (EBSHIA) has recorded a remarkable expansion in health insurance coverage, with enrolment rising from 32,149 beneficiaries in 2022 to 137,133 in 2026, representing a 429 per cent increase over the period.
The development, contained in the agency’s four-year service utilisation data, highlights significant growth in healthcare access and financial protection for residents of Ebonyi State.
The figures also indicate increased utilisation of healthcare services by insured residents, alongside sustained investment in maternal and child healthcare, disease management, preventive services and specialised medical procedures.
According to the data, EBSHIA enrolment grew steadily from 32,149 beneficiaries in 2022 to 48,458 in 2023, 86,175 in 2024, 97,953 in 2025 and 137,133 in 2026.
Between 2023 and 2026, the agency recorded 394,387 healthcare encounter visits, during which 478,607 healthcare services were provided, representing an average of about 119,652 services annually.
The figures suggest that the expansion in enrolment has translated into increased access to healthcare, with beneficiaries actively utilising services provided under the insurance scheme.
Strong Focus on Maternal and Child Healthcare
Maternal and child healthcare featured prominently in the utilisation figures, with EBSHIA supporting 94,376 antenatal care visits, 25,945 normal deliveries, 1,511 Caesarean sections and 389 assisted deliveries during the period under review.
The scheme also recorded 28,502 hypertension screenings and 9,042 diabetes screenings, reflecting attention to preventive healthcare and early detection of non-communicable diseases.
The high number of antenatal visits and supervised deliveries underscores the importance of health insurance in encouraging pregnant women to seek professional medical care and access skilled birth services.
Malaria, Respiratory Infections Dominate Disease Treatment
Infectious diseases remained a major component of healthcare utilisation.
The data showed that 113,791 cases of uncomplicated malaria were treated under the scheme, while 54,283 cases of uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infections were managed.Other conditions treated included 23,064 cases of diarrhoea, 8,810 cases of gastroenteritis and 7,347 urinary tract infections.
The large number of malaria cases underscores the continued burden of the disease in the state, while the coverage provided through health insurance offers beneficiaries greater access to treatment without having to bear the full cost of care from their personal resources.
EBSHIA Expands Access to Surgical Care
Beyond primary healthcare and disease treatment, the insurance programme has also facilitated access to various surgical procedures.
The data recorded 843 hernia surgeries, 332 myomectomies for fibroid-related conditions, 238 eye surgeries and 221 appendectomies.
Other specialised procedures undertaken included brain surgery, hip replacement, thyroidectomy, hysterectomy, prostatectomy and mastectomy.
The range of procedures covered indicates that the scheme extends beyond routine consultations and provides access to specialised interventions that could otherwise impose significant financial pressure on households.
Broadening the Scope of Healthcare Services
Other services provided through EBSHIA include eye screening and provision of eyeglasses, treatment of skin infections, arthritis and rheumatism, wound care, circumcision, ear-related conditions and sickle cell care, among other primary healthcare services.
The breadth of services reflects a health insurance package designed to address a wide range of preventive, curative and supportive healthcare needs.
Although service utilisation showed variations across the years, with higher utilisation recorded around 2023 and 2024 before moderating subsequently, the continued increase in enrolment points to the growing reach of the insurance programme.
The trend could also reflect several factors, including increased emphasis on preventive healthcare, earlier diagnosis and treatment, improved health awareness and changes in healthcare-seeking behaviour among insured residents.
Nwifuru Administration Commended
Commenting on the development, Special Assistant to the Ebonyi State Governor on New Media, Leo Ekene Oketa, described the figures as evidence of the impact of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s administration on healthcare delivery in the state.
Oketa said the expansion of health insurance coverage represents an important step towards reducing the financial burden of illness on residents and advancing the state’s broader objective of achieving universal health coverage.
He noted that the significance of the 137,133 beneficiaries goes beyond the numerical increase, stressing that the figure represents thousands of residents with greater financial protection and improved access to healthcare.
He commended Governor Nwifuru for what he described as his “superlative leadership” and also praised the Executive Secretary of EBSHIA, Dr. Divine Okemefuna Igwe, the Chairman and members of the EBSHIA Board for their contributions to the development of the scheme.
According to him, the sustained expansion of health insurance coverage will strengthen the state’s healthcare system, encourage residents to seek medical attention early and reduce the risk of households being pushed into financial hardship by healthcare costs.
The latest figures therefore position EBSHIA as an increasingly important component of Ebonyi State’s healthcare system, particularly in the areas of financial protection, preventive care, maternal health and access to essential and specialised medical services.
