Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme, United Healthcare offers free medical outreach, others

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme (BHIS) and United Healthcare, are supporting flood victims with free medicare for displaced person camps in Agbura in Yenagao and Sampou, in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGAs of the state.

The medical mission is complemented by the donation of food items to ameliorate the sufferings of people displaced by floods in the two communities.

Speaking with journalists, shortly after the exercise on Thursday, the Chairman of BHIS, Prof. Onyaye Kunle-Olowu, said the scheme’s mandate is to ensure that quality healthcare services are given to indigenes of the state.

Kunle-Olowu, who lamented the degree of destruction caused by the flood, noted that the management of BHIS was touched by the pains of the vulnerable people hence the intervention to reduce the agony caused by the flood.

Also, the Executive Director of United Healthcare, Dr Kazeem Mustapha, described Bayelsa as the worst-hit state and lauded Governor Douye Diri for the measures put in place to assuage the sufferings of flood victims.

Mustapha who lamented the devastation caused by the flood, stressed the need for all to be their brother keepers, particularly in these trying times, noting that natural disasters were no respecter of status.

On his part, a board member of BHIS, King Bubaraye Dokola, empathised with victims of untold hardship, urging them not to be in despair but keep faith in God.

Describing the disaster as disheartening, Dakolo lamented its effect on the lives and economy of people of the state and called on the Federal Government and public-spirited individuals and organizations to take a cue from BHIS.

The lawmaker representing Sagbama Constituency 1 in the Bayelsa State house of Assembly, Dr Godbless Oyinke, described the flood situation in the state as worse compared to other years, noting that Bayelsa was in dire need of assistance from the federal government.

Oyinke, who is also the Chairman of the House Committee on Health, appreciated the collaborative efforts of BHIS and United healthcare towards addressing the health challenges of the victims posed by the flood

Comrade John-Bipre maintained that Bayelsa lays the golden egg, and wondered why the Federal Government was yet to assist the state in this trying moment urging the federal government to do the needful.

Speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries, Mrs Grace Okiki, and Benneth Ajar, thanked their benefactors for coming to identify with them in their trying moment and said the food items will help reduce the current hardship.

While calling on other organisations to borrow a leaf from BHIS and United Health, Okiki and Ajar, said they were encouraged by the love shown by BHIS and United Healthcare.

Items donated are bags of sachet water, garri, rice salt, seasoning cubes, mosquito nets, drugs vaccination and dignity packs among other items donated.