A new faith-based organisation, Muslim Health Relief Foundation (MHRF) was on Monday, October 1, formally unveiled in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
At the unveiling held at Layi Oyekanmi Street, Mushin, Lagos, the founders of the foundation announced its first Islam-compliant, community-based social health relief scheme, with five million naira as the start-up fund, aimed at helping every individual to live a healthy and wealthy life.
The event, held on the Nigeria’s 58th Independence Day anniversary, saw in attendance no fewer than 100 personalities, among whom were health and non-health related professionals, University lecturers and a host of others.
Dr Moshood Olasumbo, one of the managers of the MHRF, which is situated at 33, Aladesuru Street, Off Palm Avenue, Papa Ajao, Mushin, Lagos, said the foundation has a projection of reaching the whole nation within the shortest time possible.
According to him, “We operate as a faith-based social insurance outlet, whereby you contribute a token yearly and enjoy the benefits when necessary”.
The Executive Director of MHRF, Dr Sanni Saheed Babatunde explained that MHRF aims to relieve medical care burdens for all Nigerians, both Muslims and non-Muslims, who register with their scheme.
He said: “We have two packages for the scheme: Special and General packages. By special package, we mean that such enrollees will benefit from care for chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, etc.
“However, MHRF doesn’t cover care of cancer patients and major surgeries at the moment.
“As for the general package, it takes care of primary care, which includes antenatal care and delivery, postnatal care for 6 weeks, general medical consultation, laboratory investigations, prescribed drugs, in-patient care, emergency care, minor and intermediate surgeries and annual medical check up.”
While explaining the payment range for annual subscription, Dr Sanni said: ” For an individual, the subscription costs twelve thousand naira (N12, 000), for a couple; twenty thousand naira (N20, 000).
“For a family, it goes for thirty thousand naira (N30, 000), wife and children is twenty thousand naira (N20, 000), an individual below 18 years is eight thousand naira (N8, 000), while children below 18 years is fifteen thousand naira (N15,000).
“The facility we shall use for the starting phase is The Solace Hospital (TSH), Papa Ajao, Mushin, Lagos. Interested Nigerians can get across to us at our office in the same location at The Solace Hospital. They can also call 08035367008 or visit our website: mhrf.org.ng or
e-mail us at info@mhrf.org.ng.
The Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Sekoni Tajudeen, while delivering the opening speech, commended the foundation for the initiative, while urging it to adopt the cashless policy and train members for the success of the scheme.
He said: “It is pertinent for MHRF to seriously take into cognizance the issue of accountability for the success of the scheme. Judging from experience, ideas like this die in the hands of inexperienced team members, thus it is necessary to use the cashless policy.
“Advisably, members of the team should move from one place to another in order to register interested individuals for the scheme. They should be paid based on commission, because this will increase their enthusiasm for a successful endeavor”, he said.
– Abideen Muhammed
