Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano has ordered the enrollment of all living Biafra war veterans into the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme to ensure proper care for their health.
The governor to underscore his seriousness has also set up a committee to ensure that all veterans in the state, including all players of Ranger Football Club who played in the 70s are enrolled, with a timeline of one month to conclude the job.
This was made known in a press release made available to DAILY POST by the state commissioner for information and public enlightenment, Mr C. Don Adinuba.
Adinuba said, “Most of the veterans are now old and frail. Quite a number of them suffer from various disabilities as a result of gunshots and other war-related experiences. In other words, they cannot fend for themselves and many of them do not have relatives strong enough to take care of them.
“The Anambra State Government under the leadership of Governor Obiano has been doing its best to help these veterans who spent their most productive years in defence of their beloved people but in the process sacrificed their future. A thorough analysis of the needs of these veterans by the state government has shown that health is on top of the priority list.
“As Nigeria is this month marking the 50th anniversary of the end of the Civil War, Governor Willie Obiano has directed that all Civil War veterans be provided with quality medical services in the state at no cost to the veterans.
“The veterans will receive medical treatment through the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme run by the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA). Even the token amounts paid at hospitals by participants in the insurance scheme for treatment will be written off by the state government.”
The committee which is expected to ensure a comprehensive health package and source for names veterans is headed by Air Vice Marshall Ben Chiobi (retired).
Members included, Col Emmanuel Nwobosi (retired); the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C. Don Adinuba; the Commissioner for Local Government, Town Unions and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Greg Obi, and the Executive Secretary of the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency, Dr Simeon Belonwu Onyemaechi, as well as a representative of the Secretary to the State Government.
Adinuba added that, “The committee has a month to submit a list of all the veterans in the state. It is worth emphasizing that the list will be made up of the veterans in the state, regardless of whether they are indigenes of Anambra State or not, and all members of the Rangers International Football Club of Enugu who played in the 1970s and the early 1980s.”
