Nigerian-based health technology startup, WellaHealth, has said it is committed to contributing its own quota to quality healthcare delivery by providing micro-health solutions and making them available to Nigerians through diverse different strategies.

 

One of such strategies, it stated, includes using the  Agent managers, expected to go to markets with cards to collect contributions daily.

 

The company  added that it is also championing the State of State Health Insurance Community of Practice, developed after the launch of Nigeria’s first State of States’ Health Insurance Scheme in June of 2023.

 

Marketing & Communications Lead, WellaHealth, Joseph Okoroafor, explained  that the company is focused on establishing a strong partnership with state actors, and helping them develop their processes to enable them make the desired difference for Nigerians.

 

“We believe that by partnering with states, sharing knowledge and offering solutions to some of the problems they face, and which we have solved as a business, would make a lot of difference in the journey to improving access to quality healthcare for more Nigerians”, he stated.

 

He argued that micro health insurance, alongside other innovative strategies, will pave the way for a more inclusive healthcare landscape across the continent.  Through awareness of its impact and scalability, and by building upon the lessons of the past, Okoroafor added, Africa can move towards a future where quality healthcare is accessible to all, regardless of economic status or geographical location.

 

 Historically, the national health schemes implemented in countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Morocco have often fallen short of desired effectiveness, typically covering only government staff and a select few.

 

For instance, in Nigeria, around 90 percent of citizens have to pay out-of-pocket for their healthcare expenses, exacerbating the burden of poverty. Shockingly, a staggering 97 percent of Nigerians lack health insurance to address prevalent illnesses such as malaria, diarrhea, and diabetes.

 

Okoroafor believes that micro health  insurance has come to address such issue and expand access to affordable healthcare, with leading providers, such as WellaHealth, focusing  on covering common health needs such as Malaria, Typhoid, Doctor Access via a Telemedicine Service, Hospital Cashback, Heart and Diabetes check at affordable prices.

 

Leveraging digital innovation, WellaHealth integrates telemedicine and other services at cost-effective rates, ensuring marginalized groups can benefit from modern healthcare solutions.

 

This involves reducing paperwork, simplifying the claim processing, and leveraging technology to ensure accessing healthcare is fast, affordable, and convenient. Besides, by collaborating with local health practitioners, clinics, pharmacies and organizations to facilitate enrollment and provide assistance during health emergencies, low income earners can also purchase healthcare coverage for themselves, instead of postponing care till they are too ill or risking self medication for fear of high out-of-pocket costs.