The Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) has organized a sensitization session for students at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam campus, to educate them on the advantages of the Tertiary Institutions Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP).
During the event, ASHIA’s Managing Director, Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi, emphasized the agency’s commitment to improving healthcare access for students. He commended the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kate Omenugha, for her proactive leadership in ensuring that students across all COOU campuses, including Igbariam, Uli, and Awka, benefit from TISHIP.
“TISHIP provides access to quality healthcare services both on and off campus. Students requiring specialized treatment beyond the university medical centers will be referred to ASHIA-accredited secondary healthcare facilities,” Dr. Onyemaechi explained.
He applauded Prof. Omenugha for implementing the program without additional costs to students and noted that ASHIA had already assessed the equipment needs at COOU’s medical centers. Plans are underway to supply the necessary tools to improve healthcare delivery at the Uli and Igbariam campuses.
Dr. Onyemaechi also assured students that the program would maximize the value of their medical fees, eliminating cases where funds included in tuition go unutilized. Encouraging students to understand their entitlements under TISHIP, he revealed that over 231,000 Anambra residents are already enrolled in ASHIA’s broader health insurance scheme.
Speaking on behalf of the students, Mr. Josephat Ezehiri, the university’s Students’ Attorney General, expressed gratitude for the initiative. He highlighted how the program would ease the financial burden of healthcare on students while ensuring they receive necessary medical attention.
The sensitization session underscores ASHIA’s mission to provide accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare to all residents of Anambra State, including students in tertiary institutions.
