By Asma’u Ahmad
An American-based Non-Governmental Organisation, Citizens9, says it is ready to partner with Nigerian hospitals to provide accessible and affordable healthcare through its health insurance and medical access cards.
Ms Supreina Mason, the organisation’s Chief Executive Officer, made this known in an interview with the media men on Tuesday in Lagos.
She said the cards were being offered and would be made available to those who could not afford to pay readily for healthcare.
According to her, the organisation provides and pays for the services first, then allows people to pay up between three to six months and up to a year.
Health insurance document
“Everyone deserves quality healthcare and, therefore, deserves the medical access card but lack of access to quality healthcare is a problem in Nigeria.
“I was diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension and if I did not have the quality healthcare that I have, I would have been in serious trouble. Diabetes and hypertension are serious diseases and need to be treated by a physician and not self -treated. “If we can get as many people to get quality healthcare, a lot of illnesses and diseases will become controllable, “ she said.
Mason said that the card covers any medical condition such as maternal and child health, deliveries, hypertension, diabetes, glaucoma, among other conditions.
She also said that the card had 17 features including free annual blood testing, dental care, eye care, consultations, international medical support, among others.
“We have grants in the U.S. that we apply for to help support healthcare here in Nigeria. I have been to several hospitals that did not have oxygen and I understand there is a lot of electricity issue.
“However, with the grants, we can get in later and take care of a lot of necessities that the hospitals will need, “she said.
Mason said that the organisation was working on a network to get doctors closest to the local communities for easy accessibility.
According to her, some of the locations already on the organisation’s network include Oworonshoki, Epe, Ikeja, Ketu, Mile 2, Magodo areas of the state.
“Some doctors and private hospitals have already partnered with the organisation and more are still signing up to be part of the programme.
“We are trying to get every location, so that patients do not have to travel too far to access healthcare but access it in their local community, “ she said.
Mason said that applying for the card would cost N2,499 for an individual and N9,999 for a family of five for a year.
