By Chisom Okafor
The Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) has reviewed the second quarter implementation of the Global Fund programme, with stakeholders identifying improved enrolment and accountability as key priorities.
The stakeholders made the submission at ASHIA’s Second Quarter Progress Review Meeting held on Sept. 4, at East End Hotel, Awka.
The meeting reviewed activities implemented during the quarter, including enrolment, sensitisation, implementation strategies, challenges and measures to improve outcomes.
Representing the Executive Secretary of ASHIA, Dr Augustine Ezeka, the agency’s Global Fund Focal Person, Nurse Ogochukwu Mbonu, reviewed activities carried out in the first quarter and assessed progress recorded in the second quarter.
Mbonu said the activities were designed to increase the enrolment of people living with HIV and tuberculosis in the state’s health insurance programme.
She said field activities had contributed to the improvement in enrolment, adding that the challenge of obtaining National Identification Numbers (NIN) had been addressed through collaboration with officials of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
According to her, NIMC officials joined the field teams to facilitate NIN registration for prospective beneficiaries.
The Global Fund Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Miss Ejikeme Assumpta, presented enrolment statistics across the categories covered by the programme and reported an increase in enrolment during the second quarter.
She, however, stressed the need for sustained efforts to reach more eligible beneficiaries.
Dr Tonia Mbagwu of the State Ministry of Health, who oversees the State AIDS and Prevention Control (SAPC) programme, highlighted achievements recorded under the programme and identified areas requiring further attention and intervention.
Mr Dickson Nze of the Knowledge Network for Disease Control and Vigilant (KNCV) Nigeria called for greater accountability in the management of registration forms.
Nze stressed the need for proper documentation and reconciliation of forms submitted with the number of beneficiaries enrolled under the programme.
The stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening implementation, improving accountability and expanding health insurance coverage for eligible beneficiaries under the Global Fund programme.
Chisom Okafor is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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