By Dipo Olowookere
The Financial Times of London has once again endorsed the award-winning Kwara Community Health Insurance Scheme for its transformational impact on the people of the state, particularly the rural dwellers.
In an article titled, ‘The Innovators: devices and services to improve maternal and child health’ published on its website on Thursday, the Financial Times listed Kwara Community Health Insurance among few projects with the potential to ease the burden of maternal and child mortality around the world.
The Financial Times noted that the scheme, which is operated in collaboration with Hygeia Community Health, the Netherlands government and Charity PharmAccess Foundation, was established as the first state health insurance programme in Nigeria, to provide affordable and quality healthcare for poor people.
Additionally, it stated that the scheme allows beneficiaries to access primary quality healthcare services all year round for a premium of N500. The insurance scheme is subsidized by the Kwara State government with support from the Dutch Health Insurance Fund.
While reacting, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara Community Health Insurance Scheme, Mr Razaq Abdulsalam said the endorsement is a clear recognition of the impact of the scheme. He disclosed that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed recently approved the release of N100m for the scheme.
Among the accolades the scheme has received are the 2016 Financial Times/IFC Transformational Business Award, finalist prize at OECD Development Assistance Committee awards in 2014, the United Nations and Bill Gates Foundation recognition for its creative approach to pro-poor healthcare.
