At least 2,222 vulnerable residents of Akwa Ibom State are to benefit from health insurance coverage sponsored by the South South Development Commission (SSDC), under a regional intervention aimed at reducing the financial burden of accessing medical care.

The programme, launched in Uyo on Wednesday, is part of the Commission’s broader plan to extend health insurance coverage to 100,000 vulnerable persons across the South-South region, with Akwa Ibom among the pilot states.

Representing the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SSDC, Ms Usoro Akpabio, at the flag-off ceremony held at CEEDAPEG Hotel, Uyo, the Commission’s Director of Human Capital Development and Social Welfare, Engr. Preye Aganaba, said the intervention would be sustained and expanded.

He disclosed that the number of beneficiaries sponsored by the Commission in Akwa Ibom was expected to rise to 10,000 in the next enrolment cycle.

Aganaba said the initiative was designed to reduce the burden of catastrophic out-of-pocket healthcare spending on vulnerable households, assuring that the Commission would sustain the programme for as long as it exists.

The Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Agency, Dr Edikan Ekwere, who represented the Commissioner for Health, Dr Ekem Emmanuel, described the intervention as a boost to the state’s efforts to widen access to affordable healthcare.

Ekwere said the partnership would help reduce financial barriers preventing vulnerable residents from accessing essential medical services.

He also disclosed that the state agency had enrolled more than 241,000 residents in its health insurance scheme, while reaffirming its commitment to partnerships that support the healthcare objectives of the ARISE Agenda.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for establishing the SSDC and Governor Umo Eno for supporting the establishment and operations of the state health insurance agency.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr Igbemi Igbemi, described the SSDC intervention as timely, noting that financial constraints remain a major obstacle to healthcare access for vulnerable populations.

The programme brought together local government health directors and supervisors, implementing partners, officials of the state Ministry of Health and other stakeholders.

The intervention is expected to strengthen the state’s drive towards wider health insurance coverage while providing financial protection for residents who might otherwise struggle to meet the cost of medical treatment.