World Bank-administered GPOBA Launches Pre-Paid Health Insurance Scheme in Lagos, Nigeria

News Release No. 2008/10

In Washington:
Cathy Russell, tel. (+1) 202 458 8124 crussell@worldbank.org
Ludi Joseph, tel. (+1-202) 473-7700 ljoseph@ifc.org

In Abuja:
Obadiah Tohomdet, tel. +234-09 314 5269 Otohomdet@worldbank.org

In Johannesburg:
Houtan Bassiri, tel. (+27-11) 731-3179 HBassiri@ifc.org

Abuja, October 30, 2008 – The World Bank, acting as administrator for the Global Partnership on Output-Based Aid (GPOBA), today signed a grant agreement for US$6.02 million with the Health Insurance Fund (HIF), a non-profit organization based in the Netherlands, to establish a community health scheme for low-income families in Lagos, Nigeria. The scheme will provide affordable pre-paid health insurance plans for up to 22,500 beneficiaries.