Pensioners across Benue state will soon begin to enjoy subsidised healthcare within their local governments of residence.
Chief Medical Director of Benue State Teaching Hospital Dr Stephen Hwande expressed this optimism recently in Makurdi when a delegation of pensioners led by the President of the Benue State chapter of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) Mr Michael Vembe paid him a courtesy visit.
The delegation from the state chapter of NUP had gone to register their appreciation to the Chief Medical Director for his decision to subsidise healthcare services for pensioners at the Muhammadu Buhari Mother and Child Hospital Annex of Benue State University Teaching Hospital Makurdi, during which they called on him to appeal to the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia to scale up the subsidy to the 23 LGAs in Benue State.
Responding, Dr Hwande who stated that Governor Alia was keen on improving the quality of life of people in Benue State, also promised to take the message to the governor, adding that subsidy on health care in the General hospitals within the 23 LGAs will make the service more accessible to pensioners who distance may not permit to access it in Makurdi.
Dr Hwande highlighted the efforts of Gov. Alia to reposition Benue State University Teaching Hospital to provide maximal healthcare for people of the state including payment of all outstanding arrears of workers, and on going construction of water works, VIP clinic, drugs intervention, Cancer centre among others.
While noting the passion of the Governor for the welfare of the common man, the CMD called on pensioners and all well meaning people in the state to pray for the governor to continue to carryout people orientated projects.
Earlier in his speech, the leader of the delegation, Mr Michael Vembe who recalled that while while in private practice, Dr Hwande subsidised healthcare for pensioners, invoked God’s blessings on the CMD and the Governor stressing that they have remembered the plights of elderly.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of commendation plague to the CMD by the Association in recognition of the gesture done to the pensioners
It would be recalled that in a recent development, the CMD BSUTH announced a subsidy on healthcare services for pensioners at the Muhammadu Buhari Mother and Child Annex. Based on this, card fee, consultation and hospital bed in the event of hospitalisation are free of charge for all pensioners.
The CMD revealed further that plans are underway to subsidise drugs also for the pensioners, in the future.
