By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
Towards increasing enrollment into the Bauchi State Health Contributory Scheme and enhancing quality of care for enrollees, the State Health Contributory Management Agency (BASHCMA), with support from United States Agency for International Development’s funded Integrated Health Program (USAID IHP) have organized a One Day Town Hall Meeting tagged ‘Providers and Community Forum’.
In a welcome address before the commencement of the of the meeting
held on Wednesday 19th July, 2023 at the conference hall of Jamil Hotel in Azare Town, the executive secretary of BASHCMA Dr. Mansur Mustapha Dada said the meeting was the 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.
Dr. 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.
In a keynote address, State Director of USAID IHP Dr. Alhassan Siaka expressed hope that the meeting will come up with ways on how to increase enrollment into the State Health Contributory Scheme.
Dr. Siaka wondered how 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”, said Dr. Siaka.
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 into 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 participants on the essence of the meeting, Health Financing Specialist of USAID IHP Bauchi, Pharmacist Khalid Kasimu said the objective of the meeting was to increase understanding of the State Health Insurance benefit package and, services to enrollees and also increase health insurance awareness among Ward Development Committees (WDCs).
Some of the invited beneficiaries who spoke to our correspondent on the side, commended Bauchi State Government for enrolling them into the scheme, 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 PHC, they are always referred to a secondary facility level at no cost.
One of the key outcome of the meeting was the recommitment of both WDCs and service providers to work together towards 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.
Our correspondent reports that similar town hall meetings will take place in Misau and Bauchi LGAs in the subsequent days to come.