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Zurich to insure world’s poorest

Zurich Financial Services has announced it will insure low-income people in the world’s poorest countries.

The global insurer has entered an agreement with New York-based Women’s World Banking (WWB) to collaborate on caregiver insurance-based products, a form of micro-insurance.

Only a small percentage of the low-income population in the 100 poorest countries have access to insurance services of any form, and even fewer have access during a health crisis. The new products will provide benefits to clients of WWB affiliate institutions when they are hospitalised.

Zurich’s Head of Micro-insurance, Brandon Mathews, says planning for adverse events may put women at a further disadvantage, which is where insurance comes in handy.

“If we can unlock more entrepreneurial investment by low-income women while protecting them and their families against some of life’s risks, we’ll see a multiplier effect that’ll make a difference,” he said.