In a heartfelt recount of events that could have turned tragic, a senior correspondent with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, Innocent Okoro Onoh, has praised SUNU Health Nigeria Limited for its swift and professional intervention during his wife’s labour, restoring his faith in the National Health Insurance Authority, NHIA scheme.
Okoro, who had long harboured doubts about the NHIA due to public criticism and negative perceptions, said his experience with SUNU Health during a recent medical emergency revealed the scheme’s potential when managed by the right hands.
According to him, his wife went into labour late at night on Tuesday, July 29, and was initially rushed to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Ikotun, Lagos, where she had registered for antenatal care. However, unknown to them, the health centre had joined a nationwide strike and had suspended services from midnight.
“The atmosphere was cold and unwelcoming. A midwife rudely informed us that no help would be rendered due to the strike and we were advised to leave by 7 a.m.,” Okoro recalled. “There was no medical attention. Just prayers and panic.”
With time running out and his wife’s condition becoming increasingly urgent, he reached out to the Public Relations Officer of SUNU Health Nigeria Ltd, his Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) under the NHIA scheme. What followed, he said, was a display of professionalism and compassion that he never expected.
The SUNU Health official quickly directed him to the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital and guided him through the NHIA approval process. Upon arrival, the couple received immediate attention.
“At the NHIA desk, my wife’s name was already entered into the system. The staff were courteous and efficient,” Okoro said. “The care was world-class. The medical team treated my wife with the utmost professionalism, and the labour—though difficult—was handled with such expertise that she delivered our 4.1kg baby naturally, without complications.”
What struck Okoro the most was the seamless coordination between SUNU Health and the hospital, from admission to discharge, without any out-of-pocket expenses.
“I was amazed. After years of paying into the NHIA but avoiding its services, this experience changed everything. SUNU Health not only ensured a safe delivery but also restored my belief in our national health insurance system,” he said.
He urged more Nigerians to consider using their NHIA coverage and encouraged other Health Maintenance Organisations to adopt SUNU’s standards of service.
“SUNU Health demonstrated that with empathy, professionalism and a commitment to quality care, the NHIA can indeed live up to its goal of universal health coverage,” he added.
The testimonial, now widely circulated among media and health stakeholders, has sparked renewed discussions on the role of HMOs in improving public trust in Nigeria’s health insurance ecosystem.
SUNU Health Nigeria Ltd is one of the accredited HMOs under the NHIA, providing healthcare coverage to thousands of enrollees across the country.