The partnership meeting between Centre for Human Rights, Health, Ethnic Harmony and Livelihood Development (CHHELD) and Soso care took place on 1st day of November, 2023 at the office of Soso Care in Port Harcourt. The meeting commenced with opening remarks by Kelvin Ogbonnaya, Head of Sustainability Partnership and Advocacy – Soso Care, setting the tone for a collaborative and productive discussion. Representatives from both organizations provided comprehensive overviews of their missions, goals, and current projects.
Soso Care is a leading emerging micro mobile health insurance startup founded in 2019, using innovative approach to bring health insurance to millions of people who never had it before by enabling them to pay for a health insurance with recyclable waste. Soso Care have operations running in Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Aba.
Dandyson Harry Dandyson, CHHELD Acting Executive Director/Program Director shared the objectives of the partnership which articulates the shared vision of both organizations in improving the health and livelihood of citizens and also contributing to tackling climate change in the world. He further emphasized the shared goals and mutual benefits both organizations aim to achieve through collaboration in implementing health and climate action projects within and outside Rivers State. A thorough discussion on potential areas of collaboration ensued, exploring synergies between the expertise and resources of each organization.
In his response, the Founder/CEO of Soso Care, Nonso Opurum highlighted that health insurance for citizens, especially for poor citizens is very important, even as health emergencies. He mentioned that Soso Care considers poor citizens in provision of micro-health insurance schemes, whereby they can convert their trash into cash and access to health care services. He further stated that environment pollution is a public health issue, and Soso Care aims at addressing this, while also reducing poverty in the nation. He commended the efforts made by CHHELD in executing projects in marginalized communities in the state.
The role environmental organizations play is crucial in addressing and advocating for environmental issues, conservation, and sustainable practices. The Partnership between CHHELD and Soso Care is a vital step in promoting environmentally sustainable practices in communities within and outside Rivers State, even as CHHELD carries out developmental projects and activities on the health, livelihood development, and environment and climate action thematic areas of the organization. The partnership is also aimed at fostering CHHELD’S organizational goal of advocating for access through primary health care service through the Compulsory-health-Insurance-for-All (CHIFA) program.
The partnership meeting was productive and laid the foundation for a collaborative and synergistic relationship between CHHELD and Soso Care, whereby both organizations can collaborate in the initiative, development, implementation of health, environment and livelihood projects. Both parties expressed enthusiasm and a shared commitment to achieving the outlined objectives.
In attendance in the partnership meeting were the Acting Executive Director of CHHELD, Dandyson Harry Dandyson; CEO Soso Nono Opurum, Program Officer CHHELD, David Prince; and Kelvin Ogbonnaya, Head of Sustainability Partnership and Advocacy – Soso Care.
On the 5th day of December, 2023, the partnership was further cemented by the development and signing of Memorandum of Understanding between both organizations.
