Group solicits funds for indigent patients

• Says monthly N500 donation will save a soul
• Launches ‘NONE SHOULD DIE’ project for accident victims

Health Emergency Initiative (HEI) a nongovernmental organization that stands in the gap for the poorest segment of Nigerian society enabling them to obtain lifesaving, medical care in public hospitals seeks the support of the well meaning public and corporate Nigerians to assist the organization in financially and otherwise. The organization wants every well meaning Nigerian to contribute at least N500 every month for the organization to continue saving the poorest in the society.

Briefing the newsmen in Lagos last week on Accident Victim Campaign tagged: “NONE SHOULD DIE” Dr. Ndi Onuekusi, HEI Chairman, Board of Trustee, (BOT) said that many Nigerians die for inability to pay medical bills as low as N2, 000 in public hospitals across the country. He said HEI have intervened to save the life of over 200 indigent patients who have been successfully treated but unable to pay their bills and remain in the hospitals in form of medical detention across Lagos and beyond within 16 months of its existence.

“This whole idea is to stand in the gap for this people who cannot buy healthcare of any type in Nigeria even the cheapest one of N2, 000. We have fellow Nigerians who are dying because they cannot buy health services of N2, 000,” he said.

Speaking further, Dr. Onuekusi said that 90 percent of the interventions are N20, 000 and below in view of limited resources and to ensure a wider coverage. So far: “Funding has been from members various voluntary contributions of N1000-20, 000 monthly/quarterly/ annually depending on convenience.

“HEI has put in place international standard, reporting, accounting and auditing systems which engender confidence in our systems and operations. HEI books were audited and presented to stakeholders to further enhance transparency and accountability,” he said.

Commenting on the Accident Victim Campaign, he said: “The project “None should die” is being carried out in collaboration with Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC) LASAMBUS and some selected public hospitals in Lagos. The goal is to ensure that accident victims in critical condition rescued by FRSC officials are immediately stabilized by these selected public hospitals to the tune of N20, 000 maximum at the expense of HEI.

“This assurance of a prompt settlement of their bill would ensure that the hospitals are not reluctant to the treat the victim. Therefore, diligent effort would be made to contact relatives of the victims for continuity of treatment especially for the ones exceeding the N20, 000 thresholds,” he explained.

While expressing satisfaction with the efforts of HEI, Charles Ibe, the unit commander who spoke on behalf of FRSC Sector Commander Lagos State, applauded the initiative as that would reduce some of the hitches they face while bringing accident victims to the hospital. He pointed that there is need to accept people in the hospitals when they have accidents and are brought in by men of FRSC.

“HEI have come in to bridge that gap, honestly, that is how it works in the developed country,” Mr. Ibe said.