Di people of Imo dey jolly since di announcement of Dr. Uche Ewelike wey be ogbonge doctor wey be sabinus for Health financing matter, as di new oga Executive Secretary of di Imo State Health Insurance Agency (IMSHIA). Dr. Ewelike na medical doctor wey get both masters degree, come carey PhD join. He don dey work for di National Health Insurance Authority Headquarters (formerly NHIS) for many years before dem send am to Imo State as their State Coordinator.
Since his appointment, plenty people don dey send am congratulobia messages because dem believe say he go do well. Dr. Ewelike na author of one better book on Health Care Financing. See im full profile below;
Uchenna Ewelike, MBBCh, MPH, MBA, MIAD, FRSPH, PhD is a Public Health Physician & Health Economist who hails from Ehime Mbano in Imo State. He attended both Primary and Secondary Education in Mbano between 1988-1994. He is a graduate of the University of Calabar where he obtained a bachelors degree in Medicine and Surgery (MBBCh). Having chosen a career part, he proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University Zaria where he obtained a Masters degree in Public Health (MPH). He also obtained a Masters Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy (MIAD) from the same Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Dr. Ewelike also holds a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the National Open University of Nigeria. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health (FRSPH) in the United Kingdom. He holds a doctorate degree (Ph.D.) in Health Economics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is trained and certified by renowned world institutions on health financing and health system strengthening and hold the advanced health financing certificates from the World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank Group (WBG) and Korean Development Institute (KDI).
He started his career with the US-Government HIV control programme APIN/PEPFAR in Nigeria before joining public service where he is today a Deputy Director with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Nigeria. Till his secondment to Imo State Government, he was the Imo State Coordinator of NHIA. As an experienced technocrat he was once a Technical Adviser to the Overseeing Director/CEO, NHIA where he supported the operationalization of Basic Health Care Provision Fund and other innovative health financing models.
A visiting Senior Lecturer (Pro bono) with the Department of Public Health, College of Medicine Imo State University, Owerri. He teaches and mentors undergraduate and post graduate students the economics of healthcare especially in a developing economy.
He has contributed immensely as member to many national and international technical working groups on improving the health system. Such assignments include; Member World Health Organization technical network for Universal Health Coverage. Member National Health Accounts Technical team of the Federal Ministry of Health. He is also a member of the Country’s team for Medical Audit Collaborative where he actively participated in the development of Medical Audits toolkits by the Global Joint Learning Network for Universal Health Coverage at its learning Centre in Seoul, South Korea, a document that is now used across the globe to improve quality and cost effectiveness in health insurance. Dr Ewelike is also a Member of the Domestic Resource Mobilization of Global Joint Learning Network for Universal Health Coverage, JLN. He is a member of the Nigerian team on Strategic Health Purchasing African Resource Centre (SPARC) with its headquarters in Nairobi Kenya. Member Presidential Comprehensive Response Plan (PCRP) for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, Ministerial Committee for the revitalization of Primary Healthcare Centers in Nigeria, Global Joint Learning Network for Universal Health Coverage in both Efficiency and Domestic Resource Mobilization Collaborative. Member Expert Technical working Group on the review of Life-Saving Commodities for Children and Women in Africa the United Nations Commission on life saving Commodities.
Dr Ewelike is the author of the book ‘Basics of Health Financing in a Developing Economy’ which is used in many Nigerian Universities and health financing experts in the sub region. He has published many Google index scientific papers on health financing and health systems strengthening in local and international journals.
He is a former Director of Welfare of students’ Union Government in University of Calabar and a former Secretary General Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria (APHPN) FCT Chapter. He is also the former Chairman, Steering Committee on Research for Civil Society Scaling up Nutrition in Nigeria. He is a member of the Nigerian Health Economics Association, African Health Economics and Policy Association (AfHEA), member International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) and International Health Economics Association (IHEA).
Dr Ewelike has received several awards and recognitions from organizations including Nigerian Medical Association, Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, Nigerian Army, Rotary Club, African Students Union Parliament, Mbano People’s Assembly and others.
He is widely travelled, a practicing Catholic and happily married to Nneka a chartered Accountant and blessed with four lovely children.
