I left Nigeria for the United States in 1996 at age 12, taking my first trip back to the motherland as a medical missionary 17 years later. It’s easy to take life in the US for granted thanks to our direct access to reliable infrastructure, healthcare systems, and stable governance. However, in some parts of the world, life is far from reliable. As a young boy with sickle cell trait in Nigeria, I don’t remember having many healthy days – often held back by my condition. I felt like a burden to my family, trapped in a healthcare system that offered me little chance of survival. In many developing countries, lives are lost every day to diseases that could be easily managed in wealthier countries. I could’ve been a statistic, but fortunately, I had the opportunity to access better healthcare.
The healthcare infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa is reported to be the worst in the world. The World Health Organization states that the minimum annual expenditure for basic health care is between $34 to $40 per person – a small sum for the average working person in America. Nevertheless, due to widespread poverty, it’s unaffordable to many in the region. There are several insurance options in Sub-Saharan Africa for both the public and private sectors. Again, however, many cannot afford it, while those who can lack trust in the nation’s medical system and often turn to medical tourism as an alternative.
My visit to Nigeria in 2017 ended in a meeting with doctors and administrators at the federal hospital in Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria. We met to discuss how we could strengthen clinical testing in patient care management and establish a health insurance program, along with various projects to improve the region’s quality of care. As a result, Labademic Incorporated partnered with Arthur-B Healthcare and the Abia State government to develop a robust and inclusive insurance plan to serve the people of Abia State, Nigeria. Arthur-B Healthcare launched the program in August, encouraging NGOs to support their initiatives by sponsoring as many lives as possible, especially the poor, vulnerable, and elderly.
This partnership will provide medical resources, medical experts through annual medical mission trips, and support to raise the standard of care in the region. The Abia State Health Insurance Program will cover several common diseases or ailments for all enrolled. In addition, all beneficiaries will have access to inpatient and outpatient care from over three hundred healthcare providers.
The program will cover ten days of inpatient admission annually and unlimited outpatient visits. Enrollees have several coverage options, with basic packages starting at 14,800 Naira annually – 35 USD per person. There are no age limits for enrollment, and laboratory testing and pharmaceutical services will be included.
Labademic Incorporated has launched a campaign to enroll 10,000 persons in the region every year. To reach our goal, we will need help from our global community. In this giving season, we urge you to sponsor a life for only $35, which will provide basic coverage for an entire year.
Labademic will continue to work with various regional NGOs to establish technical capacity building, strong government commitment, and secure international donor support needed to realize the benefits of medical coverage in emerging and expanding health insurance programs in Sub-Saharan Africa. We exist as an organization to solve healthcare problems. We value you as a person. Help us by sponsoring a life and sharing our agenda with others.
~Chiemela Nwaobasi
To support, please click the link: https://www.labademic.com/global-outreach
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