• As 400 Gains Free Health Care

Stakeholders have called for review of Nigeria’s health insurance scheme to save as many lives that are threatened by inability to cope with the yet prevalent cash-and-carry medical service delivery.

The call was highlighted in Port Harcourt as housing investor, My-ACE China and Meridian Hospitals, partnered the Pilgrims Health Foundation for a Christmas eve medical outreach in the Rivers State capital.

The free medical intervention held at the Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School, D-Line, Port Harcourt saw over 400 persons receive treatment for various health challenges under the scheme conducted with the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’

From general health consultations, patients were offered eye glasses, prepared for eye surgeries, tested and treated for blood pressure and sugar level control, malaria with drugs dispensed just as there was also preventive health talks focused on hygiene, maternal health and nutrition.

Sharing his experience during his 19 years engagement as a lab scientist at the Meridian Hospitals, China, CEO Housing and Construction Mayor Ltd, the force behind upcoming Alesa Highlands Smart City, said he had to quit the job when he no longer could bear seeing patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.

Having gained financial freedom through foray into entreneurship, China was pleased to have returned to the Hospital he once worked, this time to support free healthcare delivery just as he also offered cash gifts and palliatives to former colleagues who remain in the hospital employment till date.

Dr Iyke Odo, Chief Medical Director, Meridian Hospitals and founder, Pilgrims Health Foundation (Africa) recalled China as a young staff who manifested hard-work, ambition, full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding “Not everybody whol gives is a giver. The difference is that Givers are given to give.”

Odo called on government to review Nigeria’s health insurance system to be more citizens friendly for ease of access to quality health care for all as it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because of lack of money.

He further appealed for government intervention on the huge toll taxes and astronomical electricity tariffs take on operating cost which has seen facilities like his now paying N12Million against against N500,000 few years back.

He wondered why hospitals are being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities are placed on low rates to reduce operation cost so they can charge moderate fees to make health care affordable to all.

Among the health out reach beneficiaries, Jerry Onwuso, 63 yearbold patient, who got eye glasses and drugs pleaded for sustenance of the intervention just as Loveth Sam, another patient appealed for the sponsors to expand the scope of the scheme.

Chioma Faith Nnadi, Country Manager/Project Coordinator of the Pilgrims Health Foundation (Africa), explained the scheme also involves other forms of support, including scholarship interventions.