By Ehichioya Steve Odion
The Director General, Edo State Health Insurance Commission, Dr. Amegor Pack said the lesson brought by the Covid-19 pandemic to the society which resulted to a sudden halt due to health challenges in the country and across the globe was an eye opener.
He made this assertion as one of the discussants in a paper delivered by his commission through Dr. John Oshomah Bosseh "The role of the health care sector in the reduction of crime in a developing country", at the Nigerian Bar Association 2021 Annual Law Week holding in Benin City.
Dr. Amegor said the commission has to bridge the health gap as lot of people have no money to access health facilities, adding that because of the fear in future and fear of the unknown, people go into various crimes and therefore thought that it was an appropriate time to talk of the imperative of insecurity and how the health sector can bridge that gap.
He therefore said that one of the ways is by targeting the vulnerables in the society, including those below minimum wage, those whose livelihood cannot guarantee three square meals per day and those abandoned.
He also disclosed that the commission has been able to capture 25,000 persons this year which he said is about 120 to 140 per ward across the eighteen local governments in the state.
He described the commission's sensitization of the people as a moving object which is on going. "We are sensitizing the market women.We are presently visiting churches and also putting messages in their various bullettings. As at today, we have visited up to sixteen churches, traditional rulers, Edionwere, community leaders and other people in the society to sell the message of the health insurance scheme.
He also said that all the local governments and agencies are involved in the sensitization to make sure everyone is enrolled into the scheme, in order to reduce insecurity in the country, adding that when this social gap is bridged like health, education, shelter and food that crime will not be perpetuated. He further said that people perpetuate crimes because there is no existence of these social factors.
He thanked Governor Godwin Obaseki who brought the initiative to bring succur to the people of Edo State. He said he prayed that in the near future they will be able to meet the target in having universal coverage across the states.
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