The Ogidi community in the Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State has established a health insurance scheme to enhance the access of community members to good health services.
Under the scheme modelled along the strict guidelines of the Nigerian Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), the Ogidi Cottage Hospital, will, by a signed agreement, offer health services of doctor’s consultation, medical tests and drugs administration, from April this year, to subscribers to the Ogidi-Ela Mutual Health Association who are up-to-date in their yearly premium of N3,000.00 (Three thousand naira) per person.
The subscribers will pay only 10 percent of bills incurred regarding common health conditions covered by the scheme, and between 30 to 50 percent of medical conditions referred by the hospital to secondary and tertiary institutions; while the Mutual Health Association pays the balance.
Illnesses to be covered under the scheme include arthritis, cold, diabetes, high blood pressure as well as malaria and typhoid fevers. It will also offer health advisories as well as antenatal and child delivery services.
Speaking on the advantages of the scheme, the Team Lead of the Ogidi Health Initiative, Mr. Gabriel Obando, who announced this on Saturday, said “less financially endowed community members will access healthcare at cheaper costs and minimize the need to seek medical services from outside of the community, with its attendant cost, safety and security risks.
He implored community members to take advantage of the scheme, while encouraging endowed individuals, political parties, social clubs and faith organisations to adopt indigent but willing participants, by paying their yearly premium.
Already, formation and start up fund has been set aside from proceeds of a recent fund raising event by the community.
Enumeration for registration of participants is ongoing while the mutual health association, complete with a high level board of trustees headed by Mr. Olorundare Sunday Thomas, the Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Insurance Commission (NAICOM), is being registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
Others on the Board are:Mr. Tunde Ipinmisho, a community development enthusiast and former Editor of the Sunday Times, Mr. Gabriel Obando, a retired General Manager, Public Affairs, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Mr. Ade Ibileke, an accomplished accountant, Dr Omoniyi Ibietan, Head, Media Relations at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Felix Akande, an experienced international pharmacy practitioner, Madam Bose Olupeka, a politician, Prince Emmanuel Oladimeji, an ICT consultant and Hajia Funmilayo Mundi, a retired civil servant, as well as a representative of the NHIA.
The Ogidi Health Initiative had last year conducted an international fund raising through the WhatsAp channel at which over N11 million has so far been realized.
The money will be used to upgrade the Ogidi Cottage Hospital in readiness for the health insurance scheme as well as to procure additional medical equipment and essential drugs.