|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Participants at the sensitisation meeting
By Akanji Olowolodu, Bauchi
Residents of Bauchi State including various groups, market men and women, commercial motorcycles and tricycle operators as well as other stakeholders in the health sector have advocated for increase in health insurance participation in the state.
The aim is to achieve rights of persons to health in order to meet the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria at large and Bauchi State in particular stressing that no one should be denied access to quality healthcare service delivery due to his/her poor status.
This was the main focus of presentations made at a one day townhall meeting organised in Bauchi by a USAID funded Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) in collaboration with Journalists for Public Health and Development Initiatve (J4PD).
In his presentation, the Assistant General Manager, National Health Insurance Authority, (NHIA), Shamsudden Yahaya state that the Health insurance scheme is fathomed towards protecting families from financial and huge medical bills.
He explained that health insurance scheme ensures equitable distribution of healthcare services among different income groups in the society.
According to him, “The insurance will also ensure equitable distribution of healthcare cost among different income groups.”
“It ensures efficiency in healthcare services as well as limits the rise in the cost of healthcare services and ensures that every Nigerian has access to good health care services,’’ he said.
On his part, the Director of Programmes, Bauchi State Health Contributory Management Agency (BASHCMA), Dr. Haruna D. Umar emphasised the need to Increase Health Coverage noting that stastistics still indicate that there are so many that are missing out.
He disclosed that, “Over 930 million people spent at least 10% of their household income on healthcare; about 100 million people are pushed into extreme poverty each year because of out of pocket spending on health.”
Also presenting a paper, Garba Bello from Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), encouraged Bauchi State residents to explore both the informal and formal enrolment platforms as it is laden with lots of benefits and opportunities.
In his address, the Manager, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Martins Eke said they are glad that Bauchi have commenced enrolment into the Health Contributory scheme but desires a significant increase on the status to reach wider Population especially the vulnerable.
Highlighting the benefits of the enrolment, Martins Eke said, “It will reduce the financial burden on Bauchi State residents in healthcare delivery system, it can bridge equality gap, ensure more tranasparency and accountability on leaders, promote equity fir Health financing in the state as well as create healthier and more productive society “.
He also explained that enrollment into the insurance scheme increases benefits and reduces financial burden stressing that the contributory scheme would increase funding for the health sector and improve universal health coverage.
According to him, “That would also encourage and improve transparency and accountability in governance. Health contributory schemes make society healthier if embrace, would lead to a productive society.”
“The reality is that you cannot achieve universal health insurance without a health scheme,’’ Martin Eke said.
Earlier in her welcome address, the State Coordinator of Journalists for Public Health and Development Initiatve (J4PD), Elizerbeth Nange Kar said that the essence of the gathering was to hear from the people on how to Increase uptake in the Health insurance scheme in Bauchi state and reduce out of pocket expenses for people to have access to health services.
The J4PDI Coordinator, said that the sensitisation on health insurance is paramount to the citizens of the state considering the present economic situation of the country.
She also said that the meeting was organized to express concern and generate ideas on health contributory schemes toward reducing out of pocket expenditures.
“The sensitisation would provide an opportunity for people to register for health insurance as well as benefit from the services and opportunities of enrollment into the scheme,’’ she said.
Elizabeth Kah then explained that the town hall meeting was supported by USAID, Palladium and Center for Social Justice.
Mallam Usamatu Mohammed, representative of Jamaatul Izalatul Bidia Waikamatis Sunna (JIBWIS), Gwallaga, urged the relevant stakeholders to translate the health insurance act and use it in sermons at various places of worship.
On his own, the Chairman of Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), Bauchi State chapter, Rev Collins David commended the forum saying that it came at the right time as it will afford people the opportunity to know more about the scheme.
He however suggested that the awareness and advocacy should be taking to the grassroots through the Churches and other gatherings to enable the people understand it better and key into the scheme.
Highlight of the gathering was questions and answers where many concerns of the participants drawn from Religious, traditional, media, Civil and Community bodies were addressed.
