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Chairman of SIFAX Group, Dr Taiwo Afolabi, has expanded access to healthcare in rural Ogun State through a free health insurance initiative aimed at elderly and vulnerable residents across multiple communities.
The Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation and the Ogun North East Local Government worked together to make the program happen. In its first phase, it signed up sixty people from ten rural communities. The program's goal is to help people who have trouble paying for medical care get the care they need.
Dr. Afolabi built the four hundred-seat community hall where the enrollment exercise took place. The people who got the money were from the villages of Isade, Ajowa, Idomila, Iken, Igbogila, Rasonwa, Ilefon, Ileshe, Sanyindo, and Idomowo. This shows that the program reached a lot of people in the local government area.
Speaking during the event, the foundation Executive Coordinator, Mrs Foluke Ademokun, represented Dr Afolabi and explained the motivation behind the initiative. To officially start the coverage for the beneficiaries, she gave a check to officials from the Ogun State Health Insurance Agency.
According to Ademokun, the idea for the project came from the foundation's previous work in the community. She explained that a health facility previously donated by Dr Afolabi to nearby Ijebu communities was not being fully utilized because many residents could not afford the cost of treatment.
According to her, the discovery prompted the foundation to work with the state health insurance agency to provide free coverage, allowing elderly and vulnerable residents to access medical services without the burden of medical bills.
She said that the program shows that Dr. Afolabi, the SIFAX Group, and the foundation are all committed to going beyond infrastructure projects and focusing on long-term access to basic services.
Hon. Foluso Badejo, the chairman of Ogun North East Local Government, and Hon. Oside Olalekan, the local government's health supervisor, were both there. Badejo expressed appreciation for Dr Afolabi continued support, describing the intervention as a valuable complement to government healthcare efforts.
He talked about the philanthropist's long history of giving to the area, such as building markets, schools, football fields, information technology centers, and medical facilities. He said that these projects have made life better for everyone in the area.
Chief M S Odunuga, the village head of Isade, spoke on behalf of other traditional rulers and commended Dr Afolabi for his consistency and commitment to community welfare. He said that the health insurance plan was timely and helpful for people who often have trouble paying for care.
Otunba Major General Odunsin, who is now retired and in charge of the foundation's community development programs in the area, appreciated how well the foundation, community leaders, and government institutions worked together. He also praised the clear process for choosing beneficiaries and the quick issuance of insurance cards.
The free health insurance program is expected to lower people's healthcare costs and make better use of medical facilities in the communities. There are also plans for more phases.
