By Stanley Nwako
Health stakeholders in Anambra State have agreed on a new community-based approach to increase health insurance enrolment, especially among women of child-bearing age, by taking advantage of the ongoing ward-to-ward National Identification Number (NIN) registration exercise.
The decision was reached during a multi-stakeholder roundtable organised under the Strengthening Public Accountability for Results and Knowledge (SPARK 2) project.
The meeting, supported by the International Budget Partnership (IBP), brought together government agencies, civil society organisations, traditional leaders and community groups. Participants agreed that stronger cooperation among stakeholders is necessary to make healthcare more accessible to women and other vulnerable groups across the state.
As part of the resolution, Ward Development Committees, town unions, women's groups and local government officials will work together to encourage residents to register for their NIN and enrol in the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA).
The stakeholders noted that taking health insurance registration closer to communities and improving public awareness would help more pregnant women, children and indigent residents benefit from healthcare services provided under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
Speaking at the meeting, Permanent Secretary of the Anambra State Ministry of Health, Dr. Obiageli Uchebo, said the compulsory NIN requirement remains one of the biggest challenges preventing many people from joining the health insurance scheme. She explained that although a NIN is required before beneficiaries can access healthcare through ASHIA under the BHCPF, many poor residents, children and elderly persons have not yet obtained one.
Director of Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC), Nnewi, Rev. Fr. Benedict Okolo, said the meeting was organised to develop practical solutions that would improve maternal and child healthcare by increasing health insurance enrolment across communities.
Executive Director of the Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC), Ugochi Ehiahuruike, praised the commitment shown by the participating organisations. She said it was encouraging to see different institutions working together for the first time and expressed confidence that the partnership would help more women of reproductive age enrol in the health insurance scheme. She also appreciated the support of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and ASHIA in advancing the initiative.
Introducing the SPARK 2 project, JDPC Programme Officer, Onyekachi Ololo, said findings from communities revealed that the NIN requirement has become a major obstacle to health insurance enrolment.
According to him, the project aims to improve maternal healthcare by expanding health insurance coverage, promoting accountability in primary healthcare financing, strengthening referrals from traditional birth attendants and building the capacity of Ward Development Committees and health facility managers.
The Acting Executive Secretary of the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Ngozi Okeke, was represented at the meeting, alongside other key stakeholders who pledged their support for the implementation of the agreed strategies.
