BASAM
By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
As part of its continuous advocacy for improved health care services in Bauchi state, a Bauchi based Civil Society Organization (CSO) known as Bauchi State Accountability Mechanism for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (BASAM), with technical support from USAID funded Integrated Health Program (USAID IHP) has commenced the development of the first ever 2023 Bauchi State Universal Health Coverage scorecard.
Muhammad Usman, chairman of BASAM evidence subcommittee, while welcoming stakeholders to the UHC Scorecard development meeting held on Wednesday 22nd, 2023 in Bauchi, said the main objective behind developing the UHC scorecard was to have one concise scorecard that captures all the key components of health care services in Bauchi.
Usman said that though BASAM had been developing scorecards over the years with support from E4A Mamaye Project, Basam thought it wise to collapse the scorecards and develop one scorecard that that will capture all the health care components into one document for ease of use.
Speaking on the side with our correspondent, health finance advisor of USAID IHP Bauchi Field office, Pharmacist Khalid Kasimu said that the only thing different from the previous scorecards BASAM has been developing was compressing the MNCH, BHCPF and Health budget scorecards that were, hitherto, developed separately.
Pharmacist Khalid said that the innovation inherent in the new Bauchi UHC scorecard is the harmonization of all scorecards into a single evidence based advocacy material without crowding target audience. He commended BASAM coalition for taking the bold step in that direction which he described as, “first of its kind in Nigeria”.
Also speaking, Cochair of BASAM, Abu John Yusuf described the process of developing the 2023 Bauchi UHC Scorecard as laudable and inline with emerging global trend of advocacy.
Yusuf said that though at the onset, members of the coalition were skeptical about collapsing their separate scorecards into one, but that with the support of USAID IHP, BASAM saw the wisdom in doing that.
“What BASAM will be having now is one single scorecard that will capture all the three areas of it’s advocacy drive. It will no longer be cumbersome having to develop three separate scorecards”, said the Cochair.
Abu John Yusuf also commended USAID IHP for the technical support towards developing the 2023 Bauchi UHC Scorecard and their interest in the activities of BASAM, assuring them of the Coalition’s determination to keep advocating for improved health care services in Bauchi State.
In a closing remark after the workshop, the DPRS of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency Dr. Jibreel Omar Muhammad thanked all the participants for their inputs in the development of the 2023 Bauchi UHC scorecard, which according to him, “when disseminated , it will bring out the gaps in the healthcare system of the state, aimed at making Government making informed decisions towards addressing such gaps”.
He also reiterated the resolve of the Agency in partnering with development partners and CSOs with a view to adding value to what the Agency is doing towards improved health care services in Bauchi State.
Participants at the workshop include: BASAM members, key technical staff of the SPHCDA, Health Contributory Agency, State health management board, representatives of USAID IHP, UNICEF, WHO and other CSOs.