by Mina Ogbanga

Since many patients cannot afford quality healthcare, free primary healthcare centers that provide free or low-cost medical care to the uninsured and underinsured become an important resource for the poor.

“As I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I fear no evil, for thou art with me.”

If I go by Christian religious expectations, it is most likely that every Christian at one point or the other has said this prayer of faith in their lifetime. A prayer that somewhat assures you of security, imbibes hope and therefore makes one exude a certain kind of confidence at varying times.

Interestingly, this is not a piece on religion, prayers and its impact but on the confidence infused into the lives of many who otherwise would have been singing a different tune in their lives or those of their children if quality health care comes within their reach.. at no cost!

“In my lifetime, nothing would have told me that I would witness what I am witnessing today, that my child will have this sort of sickness and will survive for us to tell the testimony. God is good!” These were the words of Mama Gloria who has a child born with massive hepatic cysts and whom through the free medical health scheme in River state was operated on free of charge and today is alive and well to share the experience.

This is not all, little Georgewill’s case was no different; only a  few days ago, the 5-year-old girl fell 3-storeys leaving her unconscious for several days.

The little girl who had a dislocated left arm,head related issues and more, was attended to with such speed that surely saved her life. All this done free.

We can’t over-emphasize the fact that quick medical intervention is one miracle that lends credence to the saying, “God Dey”, referenced as the prayer of the poor.

It is difficult to overstate the importance of regular health monitoring for improved health care provision, and pursuing  initiatives that will strive to connect patients with sustained, quality care but how many state governments do this?

Since many patients cannot afford quality healthcare, free primary healthcare centers that provide free or low-cost medical care to the uninsured and underinsured become an important resource for the poor. Proving to be an indispensable element of the healthcare safety net for the disadvantaged.

One does not need to be a finance expert to quantify the huge investment of any government who embarks on the overwhelmingly touching aspect of free medical care system where the poor are yet to be attuned to issues of insurance.

It is in this light that I cannot but respect the five states across Nigeria that has taken the pain to move from debate to action in actualising the vision of healthcare provision by saving lives at no cost to the patient inspite of its huge challenges. Tax-payers monies dedicated to these would have otherwise been used to execute other white elephant projects.

These five states including Rivers, has dedicated the second largest budget allocation to healthcare delivery and saving more lives than would have otherwise been the case.

 

– The second part of this piece will be published on August 31, 2013.

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Mina Ogbanga is an ardent development activist with a strong passion for sustainable development in rural communities, institutional building and social performance.

A social entrepreneur par excellence, Mina has had over 20 years of development experience. A Post Graduate Alumni of Cambridge University UK, United Nations Training Institute, Alumni of Harvard Kennedy School Boston, US, LBS etc and a Doctoral Researcher in Nigeria,

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.