• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
    • Government
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
    • Mohammed Idris Malagi, Honorable Minister of Information and National Orientation

      FG Reaffirms Non-Interference in ICPC, EFCC Operations

      ICPC Secures Conviction of Rector for Running Unaccredited Degree Programmes

      Engr Abba Babagana Dalori

      Engr Dalori Forfeits Galaxy Hospital, Petrol Station, Properties & Cash

      Chinese nationals jailed in Lagos

      Court Jails Nine Chinese Nationals for Cybercrime in Lagos

      ASUU

      Tackle Corruption, Institutional Decay – ASUU Charges FG

  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
    • NUPENG

      NUPENG Suspends Strike After Truce With FG, Labour, Oil Stakeholders

      Customs, Defence Bureau Unveil Airboat for Smuggling War

      Customs Begins Live Operations of Automated Excise Register System

      Still on the “National Single Window” Project By Abdulsalam Mahmud

      Minister of Finance Wale Edun and the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adeniyi decorating OP Olaniyan

      Customs Generates N3.7trn in H1 2025 as FG Targets Enhanced Private…

  • National
    • Officers of NSCDC Mining Marshals

      Mining Marshals and the Fight for Nigeria’s Mineral Future By Zekeri…

      NIPR Inducts 422 New Members, Urges Commitment to National Unity

      Renewed Hope and the Broadening Public Sphere By Ahmed Balarabe Sa’id

      FG to Schools: Get Certified Teachers or Lose WAEC Accreditation

      Troops Eliminate Terrorist, Rescue Kidnap Victims in Sokoto, Katsina, Kaduna

    • Government
      • Kano Separated Conjoined Twins Return Home After Successful Surgery in S/Arabia

        Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Kano State

        Kano Government Approves ₦1.1bn for School Uniforms to Tackle Out-of-School Children…

        Renewed Hope and the Broadening Public Sphere By Ahmed Balarabe Sa’id

        FG to Schools: Get Certified Teachers or Lose WAEC Accreditation

        ECOWAS debt: Court Remands Ecobank Legal Head over Perjury, defamation of…

  • Security
    • Troops Neutralize Bandits, Intercept N23m Ransom, Rescue Victims in Zamfara, Sokoto

      court Judiciary

      Court Okays DSS Request to Accelerate Trial of Al-Barnawi, 4 Other…

      Inspector-General of Police Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun

      Police Chief Tasks Border Patrol Commanders on Enhanced Security

      Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar NAF Chief

      Air Chief Links Fiscal Discipline to Nigeria’s National Security, Operational Readiness

      Army Arrest Notorious Cattle Rustlers, Recover Arms in Plateau

  • Features
    • Officers of NSCDC Mining Marshals

      Mining Marshals and the Fight for Nigeria’s Mineral Future By Zekeri…

      Omoyele Sowore, Bayo Ononuga and Adeola Ajayi

      Sowore’s Provocation, Onanuga’s Plea and the DSS Overreach

      Renewed Hope and the Broadening Public Sphere By Ahmed Balarabe Sa’id

      Traffic officials tolling the vehicle at the scene in Abuja

      SPECIAL REPORT: Extortion, Blood and Impunity Behind Abuja’s Agbero Menace

      MUST READ: Why Everyone Should Use AI for Writing, With Pride…

  • State
    • Troops Neutralize Bandits, Intercept N23m Ransom, Rescue Victims in Zamfara, Sokoto

      UNIMAID appoints Prof. Mu’azu as Pioneer Dean, Faculty of Communication

      Kano Separated Conjoined Twins Return Home After Successful Surgery in S/Arabia

      court Judiciary

      Court Okays DSS Request to Accelerate Trial of Al-Barnawi, 4 Other…

      Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Kano State

      Kano Government Approves ₦1.1bn for School Uniforms to Tackle Out-of-School Children…

  • Event
    • UNIMAID appoints Prof. Mu’azu as Pioneer Dean, Faculty of Communication

      NIPR Inducts 422 New Members, Urges Commitment to National Unity

      Baze University Management visits TETFUND, Showcases Tech-Driven Growth, National Impact

      PHOTOS: BUK Alumni Association Launches Digital Hub to Unite Global Graduates,…

      Founder Image Merchant Promotion Ltd, Yushau Shuaib, Nigeria Customs CG, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and the IPRA representative during the 2024 GWA awards in Belgrade, Serbia

      Again, ​IPRA Shortlists Nigeria Customs, IMPR for Golden World Awards, Celebrates…

    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Home Features Between e-Naira and Health Insurance in Nigeria
  • Features

Between e-Naira and Health Insurance in Nigeria

By
Abdulrahman Abdulraheem
-
February 13, 2023

Between e-Naira and Health Insurance in Nigeria
By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

With an estimated population of 215 million people, the highest in Africa, experts believe Nigeria’s healthcare numbers do not add up especially considering the population and land mass.

Among the West African countries, Nigeria has the second highest density of medical doctors, which is, however, still very low compared to the actual need for such a large and populous nation.

One of the major health threats in Nigeria is malaria. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), malaria is the main cause of maternal mortality and poor child development. Both issues represent critical realities in Nigeria and other West African countries.

Maternal mortality in Nigeria is the third highest in the whole continent, with over 900 deaths per 100,000 live births. Child malnutrition and infant mortality are worse. Mortality rate for infants and children under five years is 70 and 104 per 1000 live births respectively.

Life expectancy ratio for both male and female is less than 60 years.

Vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, meningitis, poliomyelitis and others have not been completely eradicated.

Government expenditure on health is considerably slimmer than what comes from private contributions. According to a recent study, only about three percent of Nigeria’s GDP is invested in the health sector.

Nigerians therefore usually have to pay for health care out of their own pocket. Often, the medicine is expensive and difficult to afford, yet poverty is a big issue.

In 2018, the World Poverty Clock turned and Nigeria became the World’s Poverty Capital with over 100 million of it’s population living below the poverty line. Funding for health care services or health care affordability has therefore been a huge problem for the average Nigerian family.

Highlights of the 2022 Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) survey revealed that 63% of persons living within Nigeria (133 million people) are multidimensionally poor. The National MPI is 0.257, indicating that poor people in Nigeria experience just over one-quarter of all possible deprivations.

Unfortunately, the results of a governmental survey show that about 97 percent of Nigerians did not have any health insurance in 2018. People with health insurance mainly had employer-based coverage, whereas privately purchased insurance was uncommon.

e-Naira to the Rescue
When President Muhammadu Buhari launched the e-Naira in October 2021, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, informed Nigerians that it was groundbreaking effort to move Nigeria into digital currency with its countless benefits.

Emefiele said the e-Naira will have the same value and function of the traditional naira as a medium of exchange and a store of value. He added that the e-Naira has the advantage of being easier, faster and cheaper to operate and transact business with.

Emefiele didn’t however inform Nigerians that the e-Naira is what traditional or herbal medicine hawkers call “Gbo Gbo Nise” which means a drug that can do all things, cure all ailments and solve all problems. And that is evolution and the power of innovation for you, the genius of the Nigerian youth, the can-do spirit in every Nigerian.

Read Also:

  • Troops Neutralize Bandits, Intercept N23m Ransom, Rescue Victims in Zamfara, Sokoto
  • UNIMAID appoints Prof. Mu’azu as Pioneer Dean, Faculty of Communication
  • Kano Separated Conjoined Twins Return Home After Successful Surgery in S/Arabia

First, Emefiele has to take the credit for the vision on e-Naira, for making Nigeria the first country in Africa to officially embrace digital currency and one of the first countries in the world to do so. Emefiele may be the most criticised government official today but when he leaves office, Nigerians would look at what e-Naira is doing in their lives and remember him for good. This is because the e-Naira idea may as well be the greatest legacy of his rather eventful, if not controversial, tenure as the apex bank boss.

Having done the launch and laid a a solid foundation, a lot of Nigerians are now coming up with different ideas and products that can expand the use of the e-Naira platform. Over the years, ideas have never been the problem of Nigerian youths, its the enabling environment and the infrastructure needed to express themselves and display their talents that have been lacking. Now that Emefiele has created one, a lot of ideas are at different incubation stages to ensure the e-Naira is that platform that Nigerians can build their lives around.

One of those private geniuses inspired by Emefiele’s transformative vision is working on a product on e-Naira platform to help poor Nigerians access quality health services without paying through their noses.

This is part of measures meant to drive home the e-Naira message to all and sundry, that it is a comprehensive package that is capable of not only easing transactions but also solving most of the day to day problems of the average Nigerian.

I had a privilege to sit with the CBN’s Director of Information Technology, Mrs Rakiya Muhammad, in her office recently, and she told me that since the e-Naira was launched in October 2021, there have been a lot of private initiatives meant to expand the scope of the digital currency and add some products that can help Nigerians live more abundant lifes.

The Director told Economic Confidential that the apex bank has been encouraging the private initiatives to blossom in view of the limitless opportunities abound in the e-Naira platform which include cheaper, more efficient, faster transactions with no bank charges, network problems and other bottlenecks associated with regular banking.

She hinted that someone was working on a product that will, in collaboration with some Health Management Organisations (HMOs), help Nigerians to be saving money on a regular basis on their e-Naira wallets which they can use to access healthcare in case of any medical emergency or necessity.

“So, on the other product, she has a way to help Nigerians save money towards health insurance. So, they partner with all these HMOs and others and you can use e-Naira to be saving little amount of money everyday and when you go to the hospital, you can now use that to pay for health insurance. It will solve the problem of all those people who will go to the hospital, without the money, cash or card to pay. You already have insurance with your e-Naira. A very very interesting product.

“So, all those people are going through our incubation process. We are connecting them with investors and we have seen the huge progress they are making. It will come live soon,” she said.

These are indeed exciting times for Nigerians. The product on health insurance is just one out of countless ones coming up and they are meant to make browsing through the e-Naira platform a remarkably rewarding experience for everyone.

When the product is eventually launched, there won’t be any surprise if the country’s health care numbers improve over time.

Abdulrahman Abdulraheem is Managing Editor Economic Confidential [email protected]

VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa/
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
  • TAGS
  • (NBS)
  • Central Bank of Nigeria
  • e-Naira Health Insurance in Nigeria
  • WHO
Previous articleSecurity Operatives Foil Attack on Anambra Police Station, Kill One 
Next articleEFCC mistakenly files Affidavit before another judge, Gov Bello’s wife, not a defendant
Abdulrahman Abdulraheem
Abdulrahman Abdulraheem
Xing

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Officers of NSCDC Mining Marshals

Mining Marshals and the Fight for Nigeria’s Mineral Future By Zekeri Idakwo Laruba

Omoyele Sowore, Bayo Ononuga and Adeola Ajayi

Sowore’s Provocation, Onanuga’s Plea and the DSS Overreach

Police Nab ‘Obi of Lagos,’ Foil ₦1.5 Billion New Palace Fraud

Renewed Hope and the Broadening Public Sphere By Ahmed Balarabe Sa’id

FACT-CHECK: Did Governor Uba Sani describe El-Rufai as “Godsent” who assisted him with various needs, including property acquisitions and even against Peter Obi?

The Arrest of Ansaru Kingpins Mahmud Muhammad Usman aka Abu Bara’a, and Mahmud al-Nigeri aka Mallam Mamuda

DSS Secures 15-Year Jail Term for Ansaru Leader Over Illegal Mining

Traffic officials tolling the vehicle at the scene in Abuja

SPECIAL REPORT: Extortion, Blood and Impunity Behind Abuja’s Agbero Menace

MUST READ: Why Everyone Should Use AI for Writing, With Pride Without Shame By Abdulsalam Mahmud

Mrs Diiarau Didi Esther Walson-Jack OON mni, SEC 30, 2008, the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation

Personnel Audit to End Guesswork in Civil Service Reforms – Walson-Jack

Nigerian Army Rescues Abducted Major in Delta State

AFIT graduates

AFIT Produces 302 New Personnel to Boost Air Force Technical Capacity

Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd)

Marwa: The Tormentor of Untouchable Drug Lords By Yushau A. Shuaib

Recent Posts

  • Troops Neutralize Bandits, Intercept N23m Ransom, Rescue Victims in Zamfara, Sokoto
  • UNIMAID appoints Prof. Mu’azu as Pioneer Dean, Faculty of Communication
  • Kano Separated Conjoined Twins Return Home After Successful Surgery in S/Arabia
  • Court Okays DSS Request to Accelerate Trial of Al-Barnawi, 4 Other Terrorists
  • Kano Government Approves ₦1.1bn for School Uniforms to Tackle Out-of-School Children Crisis
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
Troops Neutralize Bandits, Intercept N23m Ransom, Rescue Victims in Zamfara, SokotoUNIMAID appoints Prof. Mu’azu as Pioneer Dean, Faculty of CommunicationKano Separated Conjoined Twins Return Home After Successful Surgery in S/ArabiaCourt Okays DSS Request to Accelerate Trial of Al-Barnawi, 4 Other TerroristsKano Government Approves ₦1.1bn for School Uniforms to Tackle Out-of-School Children CrisisPolice Chief Tasks Border Patrol Commanders on Enhanced SecurityAir Chief Links Fiscal Discipline to Nigeria’s National Security, Operational ReadinessArmy Arrest Notorious Cattle Rustlers, Recover Arms in PlateauTroops Repel Bandits’ Attacks in Kaduna, Katsina, Recover Rustled CattleMining Marshals and the Fight for Nigeria’s Mineral Future By Zekeri Idakwo LarubaNIPR Inducts 422 New Members, Urges Commitment to National UnitySowore’s Provocation, Onanuga’s Plea and the DSS OverreachNigerian Troops Intercept Ransom Money, Recover 160 Rustled CattlePolice Nab 'Obi of Lagos,' Foil ₦1.5 Billion New Palace FraudRenewed Hope and the Broadening Public Sphere By Ahmed Balarabe Sa’id
X whatsapp