By Lizzy Carr
Towards increasing enrollment into the Bauchi State Health Contributory Management Agency (BASHCMA) has taken the campaign for mass enrollment into the health Contributory scheme to local government areas inorder to enhance quality of care for enrollees.
Executive Secretary of BASHCMA Dr Mansur Dada who spoke at a town hall meeting in Azare said the meeting is first of its kind where enrollees, community leaders and service providers are brought together to discuss issues around health contributory scheme as it affects service delivery.
Dada implored the stakeholders to open up and contribute in 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.
He stated that beneficiaries of the scheme are the poorest of the poor in all the wards of the state under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
“We want people to see the benefits attached to the scheme as helps families reduce out of pocket expenses on health, individual families can register while philanthropist can pay for members of his community”.
State Director USAID IHP Dr. Alhassan Siaka said he hopes the meeting will come up with ways on how to increase enrollment into the State Health Contributory Scheme.
Siaka noted that Bauchi is still lagging behind in the implementation of the scheme despite the political will demonstrated by the State.
“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. It also serves as a feedback mechanism aimed at improving the implementation of the Scheme in Bauchi State,”
Head of Department, Standards Quality Assurance of Bauchi state office if the National Health Insurance Authority Dr. Hassan Shuaibu said participants need to be proactive in mobilizing their communities to enroll into the scheme so that they could access quality health care services at affordable cost.
While intimating participants on the essence of the meeting, Health Financing Specialist of USAID IHP Bauchi, Khalid Kasimu said the objective of the meeting was to increase understanding of the State Health Contributory Scheme benefit package and, services to enrollees and also increase awareness among Ward Development Committees (WDCs).
