About 20percent of Nigerian couples are involuntarily childless and cannot fulfil their dreams of a child of their own.
This percentage may be even higher as the 20percent prevalence of infertility in Nigeria is for couples that are officially married. Couples facing infertility often try many different fertility boosting methods delivered by untrained provider’s, risking their life and getting exploited in different ways. This is because of relatively few reputable treatment centres and the very high cost of funding these treatments.
With one cycle of IVF treatments costing up to N1.5 million, Hygeia HMO is launching financing opportunities for these treatments to couples and women trying to conceive. The financing will cover post investigation, technical fees, drugs, donor eggs and donor sperm cells as required in each case.This reduces the financial burden and with Hygeia HMO providing in-house doctors to guide clients through the process, there is also knowledgeable, emotional support by default.
Speaking on this, Obinna Ukachukwu,Head of Business Development and Strategy at Hygeia HMO stated that “Hygeia HMO identifies unique healthcare problems in Nigeria and develops solutions to solve them. This is why we have a wide range of personal and family healthcare plans available to everyone across the different socio-economic strata of the society. Our goal is simply ‘Healthcare for all’.”
Ukachukwu said that to take advantage of the IVF financing, interested clients send a request to Hygeia HMO through email address and will receive direct information including the partner clinics available and requirements of Access Bank, adding that Clients will choose a clinic and get investigations done at the clinic to confirm eligibility.
“Once confirmed, Access Bank will disburse funds to eligible clients within 72 hours and treatments can start once Hygeia HMO receives the funds,” he added.
Hygeia HMO as Nigeria’s leading health insurer is delighted to be able to expand access to its HyMama IVF planwith this financing arrangement with Access Bank. This allows the HMO rated as Nigeria’s favourite HMO brand to help more couples trying to conceive to achieve their dream family.
Victor Etuokwu, Access Bank’s Executive Director, Personal Banking said the bank has developed value propositions that cater for women’s financial and lifestyle needs through the “W” initiative. The “W” initiative hosts a Maternal Health Support Scheme(MHSS) which supports fertility antenatal and postnatal treatment, and other specialist procedures.
ANTHONIA OBOKOH
