A Port Harcourt based healthtech startup, Andrea Aid, has introduced a medical crowdfunding platform aimed at addressing Nigeria’s healthcare financing challenges by connecting verified patients with donors through a transparent and fraud resistant system. The platform partners directly with hospitals to verify patients’ medical conditions before fundraising campaigns are published, while donations are paid directly to healthcare facilities instead of patients’ personal accounts.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Andrea Aid, Kizito Don Pedro, said the initiative was created to restore public confidence in online medical fundraising by ensuring that only genuine cases are presented to potential donors. According to him, the platform seeks to eliminate fraudulent campaigns that have undermined trust in digital fundraising by working closely with hospitals to authenticate every medical case.
Nigeria continues to grapple with inadequate healthcare financing, with only about four to six per cent of the national budget allocated to the health sector, far below the 15 per cent benchmark set under the Abuja Declaration. Consequently, an estimated 90 to 95 per cent of Nigerians lack adequate health insurance and depend largely on out of pocket payments to access medical care, placing significant financial pressure on households.
Andrea Aid said its platform was developed to support patients who cannot afford the cost of treatment by providing a credible avenue for raising medical funds. As healthcare expenses continue to rise and many families depend on financial support from relatives, friends and well wishers, the startup believes its hospital verified crowdfunding model will improve transparency, encourage public trust and expand access to life saving healthcare.