Elochukwu Benjamin
Awka
Health stakeholders in Anambra State have agreed on a coordinated strategy to boost enrolment into the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) scheme by leveraging the ongoing ward-to-ward National Identification Number (NIN) registration exercise to reach women of child-bearing age, children, the elderly and other vulnerable groups.
The resolution was reached at a multi-stakeholder roundtable held under the Strengthening Public Accountability for Results and Knowledge (SPARK 2) project, supported by the International Budget Partnership (IBP)/
At the meeting, participants identified the mandatory NIN requirement as one of the biggest barriers preventing vulnerable residents from accessing healthcare services under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
The meeting brought together representatives of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), National Orientation Agency (NOA), Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA), Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ASPHCDA), Anambra State Town Unions Council (ASTUC), Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Community Development Network (COMEN), traditional institutions, civil society organisations and community leaders.
Speaking at the forum, the Permanent Secretary, Anambra State Ministry of Health, Dr. Obiageli Uchebo, said the compulsory NIN requirement had continued to deny many indigent residents access to healthcare despite government efforts to expand health insurance coverage.
She noted that although a NIN is required before beneficiaries can be enrolled into the ASHIA scheme, many vulnerable persons, including children, elderly residents and low-income households, are yet to obtain the identity number.
According to her, the dialogue provided an opportunity for government institutions and community stakeholders to jointly develop practical solutions that would improve access to healthcare for vulnerable residents.
The Director of Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC), Nnewi, Rev. Fr. Benedict Okolo, urged participants to move beyond identifying challenges by recommending practical measures that would improve maternal and child healthcare through wider health insurance enrolment.
The Executive Director of the Civil Rights Council (CRC), Okey Onyeka, described the meeting as an opportunity to remove barriers preventing pregnant women and nursing mothers from benefiting from health insurance.
Also speaking, Executive Director of the Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC), Ugochi Ehiahuruike, praised the collaboration among government agencies, development partners and community leaders, expressing confidence that the partnership would significantly increase enrolment among women of reproductive age.
She also commended NIMC, NHIA and ASHIA for their support, while calling for sustained collaboration with community leaders and local government officials to expand coverage.
Introducing the SPARK 2 project, JDPC Programme Officer, Onyekachi Ololo, said the initiative was designed to strengthen public accountability and improve primary healthcare delivery in six local government areas of Anambra State.
He explained that findings from community engagements revealed that the mandatory NIN requirement remained a major obstacle to health insurance enrolment, prompting the stakeholders’ engagement.
“The project also supports improved referrals from traditional birth attendants, capacity building for Ward Development Committees and health facility managers, as well as community advocacy through regular town hall meetings,” he said.
Representatives of ASPHCDA called on Ward Development Committee chairmen to intensify grassroots sensitisation and mobilise women of child-bearing age to enrol in the health insurance scheme, stressing that access to quality healthcare should not be taken for granted.
The Anambra JONAPWD Chairman, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke, represented by Philip Onwubuya, acknowledged progress in enrolling persons with disabilities but appealed for improved referrals, better availability of essential medicines and expanded health insurance coverage for persons living with disabilities.
The NIMC Local Government Coordinator, Simeon Modebe, representing the State Coordinator, announced that the ongoing ward-to-ward NIN registration exercise had been extended until further notice and remained free of charge, urging residents to report any cases of extortion.
At the end of the meeting, stakeholders resolved to strengthen inter-agency collaboration, intensify public awareness campaigns and fully utilise the ongoing ward-to-ward NIN registration exercise to increase health insurance enrolment across communities.
They also pledged to encourage affluent members of communities to assist indigent residents with the documentation costs required to obtain NIN where necessary.
