LABADEMIC funded Health Insurance by adoption model project implemented by Arthur-B Healthcare was the first of its kind since inception of Abia Health Insurance scheme. The aim of supporting this charitable and public venture by Labademic is to assist in accelerating progress towards achieving universal health coverage by supporting rural dwellers with financial hardship. The first phase of this project was basically for women and children.
To this effect, on May 29th 2023 Arthur-B Healthcare received first tranche of fund from LABADEMIC USA to enrolled fifteen (15) persons into Abia Health Insurance scheme. On 30th of May 2023 Arthur-B Healthcare convened a meeting with representative of Abia Health Insurance Agency to discuss on best approaches to reach out to indigent population who will be adopted into the scheme and the meeting resolved to select women of child bearing age across three LGAs in the state which includes; Ohafia, Arochukwu and Isialangwa north, and this represent one LGA from the 3 senatorial zone of the state.
To ensure that the right beneficiaries were selected the team decided to use an existing and organized structure by approaching a group known as Women Affinity Group (WAG) midwifed by Nigerian for Women Project; these are group of women who meet periodically to share ideas on how to improve their lives; through merger financial contribution. Part of their survival strategy is to contribute fifty naira (#50) on daily basis to enable them procure health insurance, at least for the rainy day. However, the sad reality is that less than ten percent of this women were able to meet up with this daily contributory obligation for health insurance. What it means is that over 90% of this women are in dare need of the insurance but could not afford it.
The team therefore in line with the mission and mandate of LABADEMIC selected 15 women from those who are most indigent and in dare need of healthcare services but couldn’t afford; adopted them by paying one-year health insurance premium for them and the burden of out of pocket medical expenditure were lifted off their shoulders.
ALL the 15 women has been registered into the health insurance scheme and are currently receiving medical service in accordance to their benefit package.
To support improved mother and child healthcare at community level, the Abia state health insurance Agency gave some consideration to the enrollee and part of the success stories is that two of the beneficiaries has delivered at no cost from their pockets as the time of writing this article.
Indeed, Arthur- B Healthcare remains eternally grateful to all team players who made the intervention a successful one, and pledge not to relent in her effort in building a robust health system for everyone.
