‘The benefits are tremendous’, says His Royal Highness the Emir of Shonga. He was interviewed briefly at a health conference in Lagos last year on the progress of the program in his Emirate. The success of the Health Insurance Fund program in the Shonga district in the heart of Kwara State is in his eyes expressed by the growing numbers of subscribers: ‘they are attracted to it.’ The very positive effect of this success is that ‘people are healthier and feeling better.’ Click on the film below to view the brief interview.

The Emir has greatly contributed to this success. With his status in society he was able to promote and ensure community involvement in the program. In an earlier held interview in the Netherlands in 2008 he made clear that he understood his role: ‘Politicians are there for the short term. I, on the other hand contribute to making the program work in the long term; that is my commitment. ‘