By Ade Jacobs
First Bank Nigeria Limited has entered into partnership with the Lagos state Health Management Agency, LASHMA to provide affordable, effective and quality healthcare to the people of the grassroots.
Under the scheme, the bank is expected to utilise its 13,000 Firstmonie Agents as payment channels for the agency.
According to the state government the retail lender was selected for the partnership in recognition of its effectiveness, efficiency and large clientele base.
LASHMA General Manager, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, disclosed this during the flag-off of the scheme in Lagos, noting that the partnership became necessary to facilitate ease of health insurance premium transactions for residents, especially at the local levels.
“The agency realised that not all residents can go to the Bank or use online platforms for the payment of their health insurance premiums, hence the agency identified the need for other payment platforms such as the Firstmonie Agents”, Dr. Zamba explained.
She said the partnership would avail residents the opportunity to pay either N40,000 annually for a family plan or N8,500 annually for an individual plan, through any of the Firstmonie Agents, adding that once the insurance premium is paid before the 25th of every month, the enrollee can receive care from the first day of the following month at any public or private hospital of their choice within the scheme’s network of providers.
Dr. Zamba urged other corporate and multinational organisations to support the agency towards ensuring that Lagos residents, irrespective of their tribal, cultural or religious differences, access quality healthcare.
The Deputy Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Mr. Gbenga Shobo, commended the government for its determination to ensure good health and wellbeing of all residents.
Shobo said “The initiative will have a crucial role in improving life expectancy of Lagos residents, whilst promoting their increased contribution to the growth and development of the state”.
He implored residents not to hesitate to pay their health insurance premiums at any of the Firstmonie agents located in all the Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas of the state in order to have their health secured.