Oceanic Health plans community insurance programme

Sunday Ojeme
The Group Managing Director of Oceanic Insurance Group, Prince Lafor Olateru-Olagbegi, has said that the Oceanic Health Management Plans has finalized plans to
introduce a robust Community Health Insurance programme aimed at promoting effective primary healthcare delivery services in Nigeria
He said in a statement on Saturday that the company would provide technical support and human capital development structures to drive primary health care delivery across the various states of the federation through the programme.
Olagbegi spoke on behalf of the Oceanic Group Chairman, Dr. (Mrs.) Cecelia Ibru, at a workshop in Ibadan which focused on ways Oceanic Health could partner with the Oyo State Council on Health at ensuring qualitative health services are available, accessible and affordable to the vulnerable and socially excluded in the state.
He said that the health insurance would play a frontline role in efforts geared towards improving the quality of life of residents of rural areas, orphans, retirees, the unemployed, and prison inmates, among others.
According to him, “Health insurance is a veritable way of providing social protection against poverty. Oceanic Health is committed to partnering with Oyo State and other states of the federation to ensure hitch-free implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme at all levels of healthcare in Nigeria by building effective and enduring technical and human capacity structures.”
The features of the partnership include, upgrade of community primary health centres, training community health workers to manage them, emphasis on primary care and referrals, incorporation of private health facilities, introduction of local scheme administrators, and affiliation to secondary care providers.
Identifying poor infrastructure, inadequate personnel and low government expenditure as factors that had stunted healthcare development in Nigeria, he said there was need for global best practices in healthcare financing in Nigeria.
He said, “There is need to ensure more equity, technical quality, reliability and support preventive measures, and rational use of resources.”
Oceanic Health Management Limited, a subsidiary of Oceanic Bank International Plc, was incorporated on January 19, 2007 to carry on the business of primary, secondary, and tertiary health management services in Nigeria . The company is manned by topflight health and other professionals led by its chief executive officer, Dr. Nte Uran-York.