The Anambra State Government has called on individuals living with HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) to register with the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) in order to access free treatment, as part of efforts to reduce mortality and improve public health outcomes.
Speaking to journalists in Awka on Wednesday, the state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, announced that ASHIA had secured crucial support from the Global Fund, making it possible for residents to receive HIV/AIDS and TB treatments at no cost under the state’s health insurance programme.
Dr Obidike stated, “We had a meeting to re-strategise on how to ensure that residents in the state have access to quality and affordable healthcare. I commend the Managing Director of ASHIA for successfully securing Global Fund support for Anambra, which has enabled HIV/AIDS and TB treatments to be provided free of charge under the scheme.”
He encouraged all individuals living with HIV/AIDS and TB to take advantage of this opportunity by registering with ASHIA to gain access to free medical services.
Also addressing the media, Dr Simeon Onyemaechi, Managing Director of ASHIA, emphasised that the scheme would cover the full cost of medical care for registered patients whenever they visit hospitals for treatment.
“When a person living with HIV is diagnosed, there are other investigations done to monitor their treatments, and they have to pay out of pocket for these health investigations. But the Global Fund support has come to take care of these patients through ASHIA,” he explained.
He added that the insurance agency will fully cover treatment expenses, and expressed confidence that this initiative will significantly improve health outcomes and reduce death rates among those affected by the diseases.
