A frontline humanitarian organisation, the Widow Aid Foundation, has officially flagged off the enrollment of widows into the Imo State Health Insurance Scheme (IMSHIA) after making the first tranche premium payment of ₦1.5 million for the enrollment of the first batch of 100 widows under a broader initiative targeting 1,000 widows across Imo State, as part of activities marking the 2026 International Widows’ Day themed “Justice, Dignity and Economic Power for Widows.”
The event, held at the headquarters of the Imo State Health Insurance Agency (IMSHIA) on Quinters Youth Avenue, opposite Civic Centre, off Concord Road, Owerri, adopted “Care Beyond Sympathy” as the guiding philosophy behind the intervention and amplified advocacy around the plight of widows as “Invisible Women with Invisible Problems.”
The programme drew government officials, legal practitioners, healthcare administrators, civil society organisations and widows from across the state.
Speaking during the event, the Founder of Widow Aid Foundation, Ambassador Faithful Iroh, said the Foundation was established in 2022 following a mandate to support widows and vulnerable women facing social exclusion, economic hardship, inheritance disputes and other forms of injustice.
He explained that the Foundation’s experience in providing food support, financial assistance, medications and medical outreach programmes had shown that healthcare remained one of the greatest burdens confronting widows.
According to him, cases involving diabetes, hypertension and other chronic illnesses revealed that occasional interventions and drug donations could not provide lasting solutions.
“Providing food and cash assistance is important, but healthcare challenges continue long after those interventions end. We realised that the sustainable solution was health insurance that guarantees access to medical care whenever it is needed,” he said.
Ambassador Faithful noted that the Foundation’s decision to make the first tranche premium payment of ₦1.5 million for the initial 100 widows forms part of its broader commitment to enroll 1,000 widows across Imo State into the health insurance scheme.
He added that the intervention would enable beneficiaries to concentrate on caring for their children and rebuilding their lives without the constant fear of medical expenses.
A major highlight of the event was the presentation of the payment card and enrollment details by Widow Aid Foundation to the Imo State Health Insurance Agency, representing the first tranche premium payment for the first batch of beneficiaries under the initiative.
Responding to the gesture, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Imo State Health Insurance Agency, Professor Uchenna Ewelike, described the initiative as a remarkable example of partnership between civil society and government in advancing universal health coverage in Imo State.
He commended Widow Aid Foundation and Ambassador Faithful Iroh for identifying healthcare as one of the most pressing challenges confronting widows and for taking practical steps to address it.
Prof. Ewelike stated that widows remain among the most financially vulnerable members of society and often struggle to access healthcare because illness comes without warning and treatment costs can be overwhelming.
He assured the beneficiaries that once their enrollment processes were completed and their names uploaded into the agency’s database, they would receive healthcare services without paying consultation fees, registration fees or card charges at designated health facilities.
The IMSHIA boss further disclosed that the health insurance scheme, which commenced operations in 2023, had already recorded over one million treated and managed cases across the state and earned national recognition for implementation excellence, while urging the beneficiaries to become ambassadors of the state’s health insurance initiatives.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Hon. Nkechinyere Ugwu, described Widow Aid Foundation’s intervention as a model of meaningful empowerment, noting that healthcare support was more valuable than one-time financial assistance.
She recalled losing one of the beneficiaries of her own empowerment programme shortly after the exercise, an experience she said taught her that health is the foundation upon which every other form of empowerment depends.
According to the Commissioner, the health insurance initiative by Widow Aid Foundation had inspired her to incorporate health insurance enrollment into her annual empowerment programmes for widows and indigent persons.
Ugwu disclosed that she would explore mechanisms for not only enrolling beneficiaries in health insurance programmes but also ensuring annual renewal of their coverage.
She commended Ambassador Faithful Iroh and Widow Aid Foundation for demonstrating that genuine compassion must go beyond sympathy and extend to sustainable interventions capable of transforming lives.
Addressing the widows present, she acknowledged the sacrifices they make daily in raising families and managing responsibilities often carried by both parents.
In recognition of those sacrifices, she wished the widows a symbolic “Happy Father’s Day” for their dual roles as mothers and fathers in their homes while also supporting the initiative by sponsoring health insurance coverage for an additional ten widows.
The Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Imo State Branch, Barr. Phil Amaefule, also praised the initiative, describing it as a vision rooted in compassion, service and faith.
She commended Widow Aid Foundation and its founder for not only speaking about the plight of widows but taking concrete action to improve their wellbeing.
Amaefule reaffirmed FIDA’s commitment to advocating for widows facing inheritance disputes, property rights violations, domestic abuse and other legal challenges.
She disclosed that the organisation continues to work with traditional rulers, security agencies and community stakeholders across the 27 local government areas of Imo State to protect the rights of widows, women and children.
Mrs Chinyere Asagwara and other beneficiaries who could not contain their joy thanked Widow Aid Foundation and its partners for coming to their aid and prayed for greater blessings upon the organisation and its supporters.
The event also featured the presentation of Humanitarian Ambassadors Awards to the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare and the Chairperson of FIDA Imo State in recognition of their advocacy and support for women and widows.
Receiving the awards, the recipients dedicated the honours to widows across Imo State and pledged to intensify advocacy for the rights and welfare of women and vulnerable groups in society.
Describing the recognition as one of the most meaningful honours they had ever received.
“Widows are the reason I am standing here today. This award is for all of us”, the Women Affairs Commissioner, Hon. Ugwu noted.
“I have received several awards, including honorary doctorates and other recognitions, but this award surpasses all of them because it represents service to humanity and support for those who need it most”, the Imo FIDA Chairperson, Barr Amaefule added.
The event ended with renewed calls for stronger collaboration among government institutions, civil society organisations and development partners to ensure that widows receive not merely sympathy but sustainable support, dignity, protection and opportunity.
