The Caretaker Committee of the Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA) in partnership with Anambra Health Insurance Agency has commenced the enrollment of over thirty (30) state based football clubs into the Health/Medical Scheme. The event which kick started on Friday at the ANSFA house witnessed the presence of club proprietors and presidents turning up for the remarkable process.
Speaking to Sports writers from the ANSFA Headquarters, Chairman of the ANSFA Caretaker Committee, Dr. Chukwuemeka Okeke, stated that the health cum medical scheme was necessary as health insurance has become necessary for the betterment and well-being of players and Club officials so as to avoid any form of casualty. Dr. Okeke who was represented by the Vice Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Sir Victor Nwangwu, also emphasized that the process will help to reduce medical cost for football club owners in the state.
In his reaction, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Executive Governor of the State on Health Scheme and Pension Matters who also is a member of the Anambra Health Insurance Agency, Hon. Dozie Okpalaugo, commended the ANSFA Caretaker Committee for thinking it wise to initiate and introduce a health insurance scheme for football club owners in the state. Hon. Okpalaugo revealed that with an annual payment of N12,000 and upon issuance of medicard, club officials and players will be eligible to assess medical care from any of 350 hospitals in the state. He opined that the Health Insurance covers treatment for illness such as malaria, minor surgery and women who are in the process of child birth from the antenatal to postnatal which also includes worse case scenario such as cesarean birth.
Reacting to the development, Proprietor of Ozalla FC, Mr. Ikenna Osueke, described the programme as a noble exercise which will ensure adequate protection of the lives of playing personnel and officials of football clubs in the state. Re-echoing the thoughts of Mr. Osueke, CEO and Sporting Director of Nnewi United FC, Mr. Olisa Onuchukwu, eulogized the ANSFA caretaker committee for the initiative describing the health insurance scheme as an important exercise which will change the narrative for football development in the state.
