By Nnedinma Okeke
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has paid a courtesy visit to the Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA) to congratulate the newly appointed Executive Secretary, Dr. Chizoba Prisca Ezeasor, on her appointment and commiserate with the Agency over the demise of its former Executive Secretary, Dr. Obianuju Chinelo Okoye.
Leading the team on the visit to the ASPHCDA Office Complex, Awka, on September 2, the NHIA Anambra State Coordinator, Mr. Mark Smart Udo, said that the visit was also aimed at briefing the Executive Secretary on the ongoing accreditation exercise being conducted by the NHIA for selected health facilities across the State.
He explained that the programme, sponsored by the Global Fund, had identified Anambra State as one of the pilot states for the health insurance programme targeted at indigent people living with tuberculosis (TB) and HIV.
According to him, the programme had been piloted for over a year and was being expanded from index patients to their dependants, including spouses and children under four years of age.
“The accreditation exercise is aimed at ensuring that people in the communities can use health facilities that are closer to them to access care.”
Mr. Udo further explained that funding from the Global Fund was being channelled through the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA).
He noted that the team had encountered challenges accessing some health facilities in Anambra East Local Government Area (LGA) during the field exercise, but the issue had been resolved with the support of the ASPHCDA establishment.
He assured that at the end of the accreditation exercise, the NHIA would communicate its findings to the Primary Healthcare Development Agency.
“This will serve as a call to action for the Agency to address the gaps identified,” he added.
Responding, the Executive Secretary of ASPHCDA, Dr. Chizoba Prisca Ezeasor, thanked the team for the visit and for its continued support towards ensuring accessible and quality healthcare for all.
She noted that reports from previous and ongoing accreditation exercises conducted in Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), including the gaps identified, would enable the ASPHCDA to assess its level of progress, identify areas requiring improvement, and determine appropriate actions to address the identified gaps.
The visit was attended by the NHIA ICT Assistant Director, Mrs. Beatrice Ilo, and NHIA Account Project Officer, Mrs. Frances Iwenofu.
Nnedinma is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State.
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