HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME FOR NON FORMAL SECTOR: APPLAUD TO A GOVERNOR WHO LEADS FROM THE HEART
Good health and well-being for all is the sustainable development goal three (3) which the world posits to attain by year 2030. Just Six (6) years to this benchmark, several developing nations still grapple with strategies to attain its prerequisite which is Universal Health Coverage (UHC) that is; preventive, curative, inclusive and equitable.
Such lofty ideal is hampered by the poor health seeking behaviour of millions of people who are in the non-formal sector, partly due to lack of information about health awareness but largely due to lack of financial capacity to cover health needs which is usually beyond the threshold of out-of-pocket finances.
A survey conducted on the living standard of Nigerians indicates that out-of-pocket payment for health care services accounts for a significant percentage of household expenditure. Expenditure on outpatient care, transport to health facilities and cost of medication contributes a significant share of household expenditures in Nigeria.
Despite this, the disease burden increases daily with more people coming down with ailments which are preventable and whose debilitating impact may require long term management which family financing cannot cover. Little wonder it is now a new culture to see people take to social media crowd funding to source funds for medical expenses.
Truth be told, it takes a leader with courage and empathy to muster the political will to begin capturing of the non-formal sector in state supported health insurance, this is due to the difficulty in pooling the funds from the payee unlike the formal sector where health insurance can be deducted from salary without the payee feeling it.
It takes innovation, massive awareness, leadership drive and political will to insist on health coverage that captures the needs of pepper sellers, mechanics, petty traders, wheelbarrow pushers, gardeners, tailors, bread sellers, single mothers, retirees, pensioners and several others who are at the lowest rung of the economic ladder
His Excellency, Hon Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa has not only demonstrated the commitment to health financing, he truly merits the honorary title of ‘Doctor’ conferred on him at the event flag-off yesterday as he has set in motion a sustainable plan to insure the health of millions of people who earn their living in the non formal sector in our sunshine state.
In addition, a cursory look at the state health sector shows Ondo state is leading in attaining all the indicators for human development viz, in maternal health where Abiyamo health scheme assures mothers of free maternal care using the biometric card tagged ‘kaadi Igbeayo’; Neonatal & Child mortality indicator achieved through free health care for children under five (5) years; Infectious and non-communicable disease prevention with over two (2) million people across 700 communities in Ondo state covered in treatment of non-communicable disease and millions annually captured in immunization drive by the state award winning Ministry of Health and Primary Healthcare Agency and finally the icing on the cake is the universal coverage which the health insurance offers all categories of persons across all communities of the state.
I hereby extend my commendations to a proactive leader who has his people in his heart and continually takes leadership in sustainable ways to make life better for his own people. Of particular interest to me is the fact that the health coverage will capture many women, girls and persons with disability hence the indices of gender equality and social inclusion are adequately factored into the scheme.
Such a governor deserves global award for the thoughtfulness and determination to make life better for people of the sunshine state. This is a scheme that is devoid of political coloration but fuelled by deep compassion to ease the burden of his own people even as the state prepares to vote for him massively by 16th November 2024.
Here is an ovation to His Excellency, Hon. Dr Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa.
A leader who leads from the heart.
Chief Mrs.Olamide Falana
Special Adviser to the Governor on Gender Matters
