USAID-IHP seeks increased enrollment into BASHCMA

State Director of the United States Agency for International Development funded Integrated Health Program (USAID-IHP), Bauchi, Dr. Alhassan Siaka has expressed hope that ways how to increase enrollment into the State Health Contributory Management Agency (BASHCMA) will be evolved.

Siaka was speaking at a one-day town hall meeting tagged ‘Providers and Community Forum’ organised by BASHCMA with support from USAID-IHP held at Jamil Hotel, Azare.

The town hall meeting was organized towards increasing enrollment into the Bauchi State Health Contributory Scheme and enhancing the quality of care for all the enrollees.

Siaka wondered how Bauchi State is still lagging behind in the implementation of the scheme despite the political will demonstrated by the State Government.

According to him, “As stakeholders in the scheme, your voices can be heard at the highest level of Governance. This Forum provides such opportunities for you to share your experiences regarding the implementation of the scheme in your communities and health facilities.”

He added that “It also serves as a feedback mechanism aimed at improving the implementation of the Scheme in Bauchi State.”

In a welcome address before the commencement of the meeting the Executive Secretary of the BASHCMA, Dr. Mansur Mustapha Dada said that the meeting was the first of its kind where enrollees, community leaders and service providers are brought together to discuss issues around the health contributory scheme as it affects service delivery.

Dada implored the stakeholders to open up and contribute to the discussions, pointing out that, “it is an avenue to voice out your concerns, advises on how to improve on what BASHCMA is implementing at the health facilities and challenges encountered at both community and facility level.

In a goodwill message, Bauchi State Coordinator of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), represented by the Head of Department, Standards Quality Assurance of the office, Dr. Hassan Shuaibu Musa charged participants to be proactive in mobilizing their communities to enroll in the scheme so that they could access quality health care services.

He assured them that NHIA will always be there to provide support for BASHCMA in the implementation process when the need arises.

While intimating to participants on the essence of the meeting, Health Financing Specialist of USAID-IHP Bauchi, Pharmacist Khalid Kasimu said the that objective of the meeting was to increase understanding of the State Health Insurance benefits package and, services to enrollees and also increase health insurance awareness among Ward Development Committees (WDCs).

Some of the invited beneficiaries of the health contributory scheme in Katagum LGA who spoke to our Correspondent on the side, commended Bauchi State Government for enrolling them into the scheme.

They were unanimous in saying that they have been benefiting from free health care services in their respective facilities and where their illnesses is beyond the capacity of the PHCs, they are always referred to a Secondary facility for further treatment.

One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the recommitment of both WDCs and Service Providers to work together for improved enrolment and create more awareness on the minimum package that a PHC can offer in terms of services under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) component of the health contributory scheme

Similar town hall meetings will take place in Misau and Bauchi LGAs in the subsequent days to come.

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