The Enugu State Government has expanded its Universal Health Coverage programme to include market traders in a move aimed at improving access to affordable and quality healthcare services across the state.
The initiative followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Enugu State Agency for Universal Health Coverage (ESA-UHC) and the National Union of Market Traders Employers of Nigeria (NUMTEN).
Speaking during the signing ceremony in Enugu, the Executive Secretary of ESA-UHC, Mrs. Edith Okolo, described the partnership as a major step toward extending health insurance coverage to an underserved segment of the population.
She disclosed that each trader will pay an annual premium of ₦12,000 to benefit from the scheme, with NUMTEN responsible for collecting the premium through members’ union dues before remitting it to the agency.
Mrs. Okolo said the initiative reflects the state government’s commitment to ensuring that market traders have access to affordable, quality healthcare, adding that beneficiaries will be free to choose any accredited healthcare provider under the scheme.
She also revealed that the agency has established a 24-hour control room and a toll-free line to receive complaints and feedback from enrollees, with the aim of improving service delivery and ensuring accountability among healthcare providers.
Speaking on behalf of the traders, the Chairman of NUMTEN in Enugu State, Mr. Ezeoha Eneh, commended the government for the initiative, describing it as a significant intervention for low-income traders.
He assured that the union would embark on extensive sensitisation campaigns across markets in the state to encourage enrolment, noting that the ₦12,000 annual premium is affordable when compared to the rising cost of healthcare.
