COVID-19: Providing free insurance cover for frontline Health workers
Federal government and Insurance industry in Nigeria in a bid to stop the spread of COVID-19 has offered Life insurance cover for healthcare workers providing care for COVID-19 patients as a measure of support and as a call for more commitment to duties. EDET UDOH reports.
Since February this year when the index case of Corona Virus (COVID-19) was first confirmed in Nigeria through an Italian national who came to Lagos from Milan who was later treated and discharged, the spread of the deadly virus has continued in Nigeria unabated killing many Nigerians and many infected by the virus including healthcare workers on the forefront of providing care for COVID-19 patients.
The spread of this virus to Nigeria with inadequate healthcare facilities, obsolete healthcare equipments and insufficient healthcare personnel has further exposed the inadequacies of our healthcare system which hitherto had been suffering brain drain in its healthcare sector occasioned by government’s uncaring attitude and lack of adequate welfare package and incentives for its healthcare professionals.
Unfortunately, the healthcare professionals who were badly treated in the past are now seen by the government as heroes because of the hazard they are going through in providing care for COVID-19 patients. Why? This is because now the politicians, top government functionaries, rich, and the poor are treated in Nigeria. No travelling abroad for medical treatment by some few fortunate ones.
Indeed, the COVID-19 situation in Nigeria could be described as a blessing in disguise as top politicians and government functionaries with the virus are made to have a feel of our healthcare system whether directly or indirectly.
Incidentally, today, with the ravaging pandemic, the consequences of the sins of our leaders who failed to do the needful while on power or position of authority are now foisted on the innocent healthcare workers who now have to bear the burden of saving the lives of these people and that of the entire nation even at the expense of their own safety.
Interestingly, the federal government of Nigeria, perhaps in a bid to right the wrongs perpetrated by the past leaders and having experienced what others have been experiencing in the past 59 of the nationhood as well as to assuage the frayed nerves has decided to provide succour in order to encourage the healthcare professionals to continue to do their best in saving lives of Nigerians from this pandemic.
FG’s N11 billion life insurance cover
In doing this, the government has offered N11 billion life insurance cover for 5,000 healthcare professionals across the country on the frontline of providing care for the victims of COVID-19 pandemic.
Federal government announced the package through its Chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha, in a press briefing on Friday in Abuja.
According to Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the donation was the contribution of the nation’s insurance industry to the effort towards curbing the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
He noted that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was already signed by the Ministry of Health and key players, to make special allowances and incentives available for health workers.
“I am pleased to inform you that in addition to what the Federal Government is doing, the insurance industry has responded massively to the call for support.
“The Presidential Task Force has received a life insurance cover to all frontline workers on COVID-19 for a maximum of 5,000 health workers who are employed to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said in his opening remarks at the briefing.
Premium paid
“The premium, in the sum of N112,500,000 for cover, has been fully paid by the Nigeria Insurance Industry, in line with the principle of no premium, no cover.”
Healthcare workers assured of government’s protection
Mustapha also assured the frontline workers to double their efforts, saying the government was committed to protecting them in the course of discharging their duty.
He specifically asked the health workers not to relent; noting that the Federal Government has put in place measures to ensure their welfare was taken care of.
The SGF said, “Today, the welfare of our frontline heroes – the health workers – came to the front burner.
NAICOM’s confirmation
This was later confirmed by the Commissioner for Insurance, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr. Sunday Thomas, in a statement in Abuja recently that the federal government has offered N11 billion life insurance cover for 5,000 health workers employed to fight COVID-19 in Nigeria.
He said the benefit which is the sum assured payable to the families or named beneficiary of any of the workers that dies in the line of duty is as follows: Medical Doctors N3 million; Pharmacists/Nurses N2 million and others N1 million.
According to him, the Life Insurance Policy which is the evidence of the contract was presented to the Chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 through the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajia Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed.
NAICOM boss who said a total of 19 Life Insurance companies have been accredited to provide the cover also stated that the cover is for a period of 12 months effective April 14, 2020.
In a statement recently, NAICOM boss explained that the N11 billion free insurance cover provided by the nation insurance industry to support Federal Government complements existing insurance policies.
He said in event of any fatality, the relevant agencies of government will immediately advise the lead Underwriter, FBNInsurance Limited who will make request for relevant documents needed for payment of the claim in the death of a maximum 5,000 health workers employed across the federation in the fight against Covid-19.
Insurers’ N1 million free life insurance cover
Already, insurance companies, under the auspices of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), are set to provide free life insurance coverage for all the medical personnel that will be attending to victims of the outbreak.
The Life insurance scheme, it was learnt, covers each medical staff to the tune of N1 Million which is redeemable as a result of death or permanent disability in the discharge of their duties.
Speaking at the Media briefing to unveil the Intervention Initiatives in Lagos, the Chairman, NIA, Mr. Tope Smart, said: “In line with our profession as risk managers, NIA has decided to arrange a special life Insurance cover for all health personnel and allied professionals who are attending to victims of COVID-19. The policy has N1 Million Sum Assured in the case of death or permanent disability.”.
Smart, who is also the Managing Director/CEO, NEM Insurance Plc, added that, arrangements are on to procure testing kits and protective materials worth about N100 Million, for the use of medical personnel saddled with this responsibility.
N5 billion by a coalition of six insurance companies
Similarly, a coalition of six insurance companies in Nigeria announced an insurance cover of N5 billion Sum Assured for health workers and volunteers in the fight against coronavirus outbreak in Lagos State.
The policy, according to a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officers of the concerned insurance firms, covers; medical, disability, incapacity and term life insurance for up to 1000 doctors, nurses, and other health workers in the state.
The companies and their MDs are; Tunde Hassan-Odukale (Leadway Assurance Company Limited), Wole Oshin (Custodian & Allied Insurance Plc), Segun Balogun (Lasaco Assurance Plc), Babatunde Fajemirokun (AIICO Insurance Plc), Livingstone Magorimbo (Tangerine Life Insurance Limited), and Kayode Awogboro (Ark Insurance Brokers Limited).
Moreover, Leadway Assurance Company Limited donated Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) materials, Covid-19 test kits and Foodstuff to the tune of N135 million, as part of its efforts to support optimal testing and treatment of Covid-19 cases as well as access to nutrition in the country during the quarantine period.
Speaking on this development, its Managing Director, Mr. Tunde Hassan-Odukale, said, the insurer understands the magnitude of the risk taken by health workers who have elected to support the government to take care of Nigerians in the wake of a pandemic that is ravaging worldwide.
LASACO’s N1 billion free insurance cover
In a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19, LASACO Assurance Plc has offered N1 billion free insurance cover to health Workers in Osun state as part of its contributions to the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
The Managing Director of the company, Segun Balogun who stated this in a statement, said 200 frontline health workers involved in the containment of the disease in the state would enjoy insurance cover to the tune of N5 million each to cover death/permanent disability and medical/hospitalization expenses.
“The gesture was to boost the morale and motivate the workers, who are in the fore-front of the battle against COVID-19 and are, thus, exposed to several risks,” he stated.
