Health Insurance for People in Rural Areas: "We have plans" - Exhela Initiative CEO, Prisca Onyegwara

A lot of young Nigerians are pushing the frontiers for development and socio-economic inclusiveness through rural-level impact across the country today.

In a speech delivered by former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Oxford University in 2016, he said, "Despite incredible challenges, Nigerian youths are achieving great things and placing Nigeria positively in the world map. They inspire us.”

One of such inspirational Nigerian youths today is Prisca Onyegwara, founder of Exhela Initiative, a non-profit that has been making tangible impact on healthy living for Nigerians living in rural areas.

Last week, The Paul Anunaso Blog spoke with her for an exclusive interview, and she shared with us about the amazing work that Exhela Initiative is doing, as well as their plans for the future, and she also had somethings to say about the recent surge in COVID-19 due to the Omicron variant.

See full details of the interview below. 

Good afternoon, and thank you for speaking to The Paul Anunaso Blog Feature Story. Please introduce yourself to our readers, and tell us what Exhela Initiative means, and what it's all about.

Thank you. I am Prisca Onyegwara, also known as Doc Zoe. I am the CEO and founder of Exhela Initiative.

Exhela means Excellent Health for Africa. 

Excellent Health for Africa Initiative (Exhela Initiative) is a registered and recognized non-profit organization that focuses on addressing social determinants of health, bridging the gap in healthcare, and eradicating health issues in Africa, through education, medical outreaches and providing access to healthcare services. We work in line with the United Nations SDG3 to ensure good health and well-being in Africa.

Access to quality healthcare, and the practice of healthy habits are known to be in short supply in many African cities. So, naturally, the work that organizations such as yours' does is very welcome. Have you identified any critical social factors that are determinants of health, which need to be promoted in our society? Please tell us a little bit about them.

Yes, two critical social determinants of health are:

Poverty: When people barely have enough money to take care of themselves, healthcare becomes a luxury, and they prefer to feed and take care of pressing needs instead of going to seek medical attention that will cost them more money.

Knowledge: Lack of or low knowledge can actually make people live lifestyles that predisposes them to different health challenges. That is why we carry out our health awareness campaigns to enlighten people and empower them to live healthier lifestyles.

Speaking of medical outreaches, you just successfully concluded one at Enugu state. Congratulations! Please tell us how it went, and the healthcare areas you covered during the event.

Thank you. Yes we just concluded a free medical outreach in Trans Ekulu, Enugu state. It went really well as we saw over 200 persons.

The people were provided with:

Free consultation from different doctors of different specialties 

Free lab tests

Free eye check 

Free eye glasses

Free medications

And we also gave out relief materials such as clothes and shoes.

Photo Collage showing recent Medical Outreach by Exhela Initiative at Enugu, Nigeria.

That is so awesome! We noticed that during the event, so many eye glasses and drugs were distributed to participants for free, courtesy of Exhela Initiative. That must have cost a whole lot. Can you tell us about the volunteers, sponsors and partners that help you in your noble mission? And are you open to having new ones join you now?

[OMG] All I can say is that I am blessed with an amazing team. The volunteers all came with their A game. The doctors and nurses were really passionate about the work, and you could see their love for their fellow humans.

Our sponsors and partners were amazing and we really appreciate them.

Of course, we are open to meet and connect with new sponsors, the more resources we get, the more people we will be able to help.

How can prospective volunteers, sponsors or partners reach out to you in this regard?

We have various ways that we can be reached, they are:

Website: www.exhelainitiative.org

Email: info@exhelainitiative.org

Facebook: exhela initiative 

Instagram: exhela_initiative

Phone number: 08032719012

I know that you are a public health expert by profession, so I have to ask you about COVID.

Ever since the Omicron variant was discovered last month, various cities around the world have been witnessing new waves of virus spreading. Nigeria is currently going through the fourth wave, while cases are reportedly going down in South Africa and some other countries. As a public health expert, what can you tell us about the Omicrom variant, particularly in terms of how serious or not it is if contracted, and what you feel is the best way that African governments can help fight its spread?

Yes the omicron is a new variant of the Covid-19 and the prevalence is is getting higher.

According to the CDC, The Omicron variant likely will spread more easily than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus.

CDC expects that anyone with Omicron infection can spread the virus to others, even if they are vaccinated or don’t have symptoms.

An advice for African government is to sensitize the people about the virus, and make the vaccine accessible to people no matter their location, and or economic status.

The vaccines are expected to protect against severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths due to infection with the Omicron variant. 

Does this mean that the vaccines do not necessarily prevent one from contracting the virus, but rather serve mainly to, as you said, protect against severe illness in the event that one contracts it?

Yes the vaccine will not prevent you from having the virus, you can still get Covid-19 after getting the vaccine.

Okay, thank you for that clarification. The fourth wave of COVID is really bitting hard in Nigeria right now. The country's Center for Disease Control reported 2,123 new cases and 4 deaths last week Tuesday. This is the highest daily tally since Nigeria started taking records, according to The Punch Newspapers. 

As the yuletide and new year season advances, how would you advice Nigerians to conduct themselves, in light of the current wave?

My advice for Nigerians are

1. Wear your face masks when you are in a public place

2. As much as you can, limit public gatherings.

3. Go get vaccinated.

(Laughs) Nigerians don’t listen to advice when it comes to Covid-19.

(Laughs) That is true, and I think it has something to do with the belief that many of us (including myself) have, that Nigerians have some form of immunity already because of our constant battles with malaria and typhoid. What do you say about that?

I believe so too. I have spoken to a couple of persons in Nigeria and I get the same reaction too, and this is because some of the symptoms of Covid-19 are similar to malaria’s. So people tend to believe that they are having malaria. 

Yes. In any case, I think your earlier advice still stands, and that it is better to err on the side of caution, especially considering the issue of pre-existing conditions, right?

You are right, better safe than sorry. 

Team Exhela

Permit me to take you back to something you said earlier and with which I agree. It is true that a gap in knowledge exists as one of the major social determinants of health, in terms of lifestyles that expose people to various health risks.

But do you also consider that the lack of proper awareness about health insurance policies that can be obtained and used in case of health crises, could also be a problem, especially amongst the middle class? And does your organization have any plans to do something in this area, either to promote the knowledge of it, or to lobby policymakers to take action?

Health insurance is very important to help people get quality healthcare.

It’s important to teach people on the importance of insurance, but it’s also important to look at the premiums and copays that the people are charged. Remember we are talking about people who can barely feed their family.

It’s important for the government and policy makers to help provide insurance at a reduced rate.

Exhela Initiative has plans towards helping people in rural areas get insurance but we will announce it as soon as we finalize plans.

Does Exhela have any big plans for 2022 that we need to be on the lookout for yet?

Yes we do.

We have our Healthy girl Child Project: A period poverty campaign to help create awareness on period poverty and provide sanitary pads for young girls in rural communities in Africa.

We also have our Project 1k—a project to help provide health education to young children in different schools, and provide back packs with first aid materials in them.

We have our Healthy Projects too.

2022 is really loaded for Exhela Initiative and we are excited about it.

Wow... This is amazing.

It is sure going to be a busy and impactful year for Exhela. And we wish you the very best in the planning and execution. Thank you so much for taking the time to speak to us about you amazing initiative.

We will surely follow all the amazing stuff coming from Exhela as we enter the new year 2022.

Thank you very much. We look forward to sharing more about our journey as we progress.

This interview was conducted by Chukwubuikem Paul Anunaso, the editor of The Paul Anunaso Blog.