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| L–R: Babafemi Aina, Technical Director/COO, Solina Centre for International Development & Research (SCIDaR); Dr. Uchenna Igbokwe, Executive Director/CEO of SCIDaR; Chizoba Iheme, Group Head, Financial Inclusion, Access Bank; and Emise Nonso-Onwuanibe, Area Sales Manager, Abuja & Kogi, at the MoU signing in Abuja |
Access Bank, said it has partnered with Solina Centre for International Development and Research (SCIDaR), a prominent non-profit organisation spearheading impactful health interventions across Africa to tackle financing challenges faced by over 200,000 health Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria.
This collaboration, anchored by the Promoting Accreditation
for Community Health Services (PACS) project, aims to bolster the supply chain,
enhance productivity, and fortify the economic resilience of SMEs within the
health sector, particularly Community Pharmacists (CPs) and Patent &
Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) across Nigeria.
At the MoU signing event in Abuja, CEO of SCIDaR, Dr.
Uchenna Igbokwe said, “funding is critical for Nigeria’s health system.
Insufficient funding has strained our health infrastructure, resulting in
subpar performance on health metrics. This partnership with Access Bank is
timely as it aligns with the government’s vision for the health sector and has
the potential to strengthen health value chains and support our country’s GDP
contribution.”
Igbokwe elaborated on SCIDaR’s increasing focus on access to
finance and financial inclusion within the health sector, driven by the
significant unmet needs and the pivotal role of finance in achieving universal
health coverage in Nigeria.
Deputy managing director, Access Bank, Chizoma Okoli said
“in 2022, we launched a project with the goal of enrolling one in every two
Nigerians. It is audacious and we have attained outstanding results so far. As
part of our ongoing mandate, we are committed to providing access to finance
for entrepreneurs in the transportation, agriculture, and health sectors this
year.
“In line with this commitment, we have collaborated with
SCIDaR to drive inclusion specifically within the health space. This
partnership emphasises our unwavering commitment to fostering financial
inclusion and sustainable development across Nigeria.”
Also, Group head, Consumer Banking, Access Bank, Njideka
Esomeju highlighted Access Bank’s dedication to driving inclusion in the health
sector, stating that “the bank stands ready to extend loans to health SMEs,
empowering them to expand their businesses and efficiently serve rural
communities across Nigeria.
“This strategy not only promotes increased financial
stability but also stimulates economic growth in the health industry.”
Group head, Financial Inclusion, Access Bank, Chizoba Iheme
emphasised the bank’s dedication to expanding financial services across
Nigeria, highlighting “the strategy to reach all 774 local governments,
ensuring even the most remote individuals have access to finance.
“This endeavour is primarily enabled through the bank’s
extensive agency banking network, which serves as the digital platform
connecting underserved communities to formal financial services. We envision an
ecosystem where financial inclusion enhances access to healthcare, ultimately
improving the well-being of our communities.”
Iheme elaborated that harnessing the network of Patent and
Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMV) as agents will extend financial services to
remote areas, thereby ensuring broader financial inclusion and widespread
adoption of digital banking and financial services within the healthcare
sector.