The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in partnership with Leadway Health Limited (HMO) has launched and commenced comprehensive health insurance for petroleum tanker drivers.
The health insurance scheme is an initiative of the leadership of the Union and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of the Union for the health and well-being of members.
In his opening remarks, President of NUPENG, Comrade Prince Williams Akporeha, highlighted the inherent risks and dangers associated with the tanker driving profession, noting that the objective of the scheme is to ensure the well-being and safety of drivers.
“We gather here today, united by the common goal of ensuring the well-being and safety of those who tirelessly transport the lifeblood of our nation – our petroleum products. These drivers brave challenging terrains, harsh weather conditions, and long hours on the road, insecurity to ensure the uninterrupted supply of fuel to every nook and cranny of our beloved country.
Cross section of NUPENG members at the launch of the health insurance partnership
“Yet we must acknowledge that this profession carries inherent risk and dangers. Accidents, injuries, and health-related complications are unfortunate realities that these brave individuals face every day…It is our moral obligation as a Union to provide them with the necessary support, care, and protection they deserve.
“Today, we have come together to address this critical need by introducing the Health Insurance Scheme for our petroleum tanker drivers. This comprehensive health insurance coverage will ensure that our Petroleum Tanker Drivers have access to quality healthcare services, preventive care, and emergency medical attention. Through this scheme, we aim to alleviate financial burdens, provide peace of mind, and guarantee timely medical intervention when needed for our members,” NUPENG President, said.
While calling on the drivers to embrace the scheme to its fullest extent, Comrade Akporeha said “Your health is your most valuable asset, and no cost should be spared in its preservation. I urge you to take preventive measures seriously, undergo regular check-ups, and seek medical assistance whenever it is required. Your health and safety are of paramount importance, not only to yourselves but to our entire nation.”
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General Secretary of NUPENG, Comrade Olufemi Afolabi, urged Leadway Health Limited (HMO) to provide quality and acceptable services just as he enjoined all members to take advantage of the scheme for their well-being.
“If you mess up this scheme, you will regret doing business in Nigeria. I am serious about this. Comrades, anywhere you are not well treated, please contact your zonal chairman or your unit chairman and we will take appropriate action.
“There is no hanky-panky in this scheme. We do not have any deal special with Leadway Health Limited. The deal we signed is to provide comprehensive medical services for our tanker drivers on the wheel. There is no joke about this and we are very serious and that is the reason I came back to talk to you. Nobody should treat you shabbily; you have the right to complain if you are not well treated.
“Comrades, this scheme is meant for Tanker Drivers on the wheel. We have captured tanker drivers with their valid Driver’s Licenses, valid vehicle particulars, and telephone numbers, you will be provided with a small medical card. I will give you a list of the hospitals across this country. The leadership wants to take care of every tanker driver that is driving from Lagos to Maiduguri to Calabar to Sokoto or to anywhere.
“On your routes, if you have any ailments or where there is an accident, you have access to over 2,000 hospitals. Do not go and take herbs again. You can walk in there and take your blood pressure. Please take good advantage of this scheme, do not let the money we are paying go to waste, and tell other members that they have the right to use these hospitals. For every truck that is loaded, we are going to put a sticker. When they give you this sticker, please paste it on your truck. God forbid, in case there is an accident and you are unconscious, people can see the number and call. We are working with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on this scheme.
“Tell all tanker drivers that is driving that now NUPENG is providing health insurance for its members. What the government is not doing, we can do it for ourselves,” Comrade Afolabi said.
Responding, the Managing Director/CEO, Leadway Health Limited, Dr. Tokumbo Ali, represented at the occasion by Dr. Gideon Anumba, assured leadership of NUPENG of quality services.
“Leadway Health has been in business for the past 53 years and we would not, for anything in this world, throw away that reputation that we have built over these years. If we were not planning to deliver a laudable and workable health insurance, we would not have been part of this initiative at any point in time.
“We are promising that the full health insurance that NUPENG and PTD have procured for tanker drivers is what tanker drivers are going to get. Leadway Health as of today is the fastest growing health insurance and there is a reason for that. It is because we keep our word and we deliver our promise. We are going to be administering this health insurance, like many people have spoken about, through a network of more than 2000 hospitals across Nigeria. There is no single state in Nigeria where you will go today and you will not have a hospital that we have partnered with.
“Another important aspect is that you are not tied to any particular hospital, so you cannot say I come from Sokoto and my hospital is in Sokoto, so if you are on your way and you run into trouble in Kaduna and you are helpless, that is not how this scheme works. This scheme is what we call a roaming scheme. It’s advisable that you have your hospital close to where you feel that you will be most of the time so that your records can be there, and you can well use any hospital in any state of this country,” he explained.
Dr Tokumbo said, “We are going to issue you a card and this care will have your name, the card will have what we call an enrollee ID, with eight digits of numbers, and with this card, once you enter any hospital and present it, you are eligible to access care. If for any reason, you do not have this card and ill health arises and you need to access care, it is either you have the enrollee’s number saved on your phone so that you can always bring it up or you can give the hospital the phone number you gave us when we were registering you and with that phone number, they can recognize you that you are a member of this scheme and you will be able to access the care that you are eligible for.
“This scheme is not like a malaria plan that is given to people when they have malaria or catarrh. This is a full health insurance cover. So you are entitled to be treated when you have malaria, you are entitled to be treated and given the drug for blood pressure if you have blood pressure, or maybe diabetes or any serious condition, and if you need to be admitted because the illness is serious enough, you are also eligible to be admitted.
“I want to also add that this plan covers ambulance transfer, so if there is an emergency or an accident, the number that is on the sticker that is pasted on your car can be reached out that we have a member who is in trouble here and need to get to the nearest hospital for attention and an ambulance will be deployed from the nearest hospital to the location to pick the person to the hospital.”
