Boosting community health care in Nigeria

Thousands of people living in Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta can now have affordable vaccinations, childbirth care, and a range of operations. In return, they pay a subsidised annual premium of $25, a fraction of the usual cost of treatment. Women in the Niger Delta, for example, can pay $300-350 for hospital childbirth care.

Local communities decided to set up the insurance scheme with seed funding and practical support from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and its joint-venture partners. The project is an example of the creative approach SPDC and partners take today in investing in communities. It gives local people the power to develop and implement projects themselves. In the past, communities had little opportunity to contribute to the planning and execution of projects.

By the end of 2010, more than 8,000 people had signed up to the insurance scheme, run by Health Care International, a non-profit organisation. In 2011, the membership looked set to expand. Patients receive treatment at the Obio cottage hospital in Port Harcourt, also supported financially and through practical help by SPDC and partners. More communities now want to establish similar schemes.

Other projects have used the same community development approach to build schools, town halls and health clinics and improve fresh-water supplies. Funds can also be used to provide micro-credit finance, for example to support small businesses and women’s groups.