Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Enugu State office has held a sensitisation meeting/forum for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and other enrollees in Enugu, the state capital.
The theme for the forum was: “Universal Health Coverage: Enhancing Efficient Utilisation, Enrollee Satisfaction and Access to Quality Healthcare Services.”
In her address, the Acting State Coordinator of NHIA, Ms Ajemba Mabel, said the sensitisation was a continuation of series of events by the authority to create awareness on innovations that have taken place under the new Director General, Prof. Mohammed Sambo.
She said that the office had carried out several sensitisation/ Enlightenment visits to some MDAs between January and now.
“We have done mop up/update registration in some MDAs.
“We have also done out-door marketing of the GIFSHIP in communities, Markets, Churches, Mosques, Social clubs, Sports clubs , Market union/ Executives, socio- cultural groups, Companies, Individuals and National/ State assemble members,” she said.
In the same vein, the Zonal Coordinator, Mrs Ocho Ahunna, said the meeting has become necessary to update enrollees and other stakeholders on new and evolving innovations at the agency.
She said that the sensitisation was also meant to interact with stakeholders to share knowledge and ideas on how to improve the quality of services of the agency.
Speaking on the topic, “building enrollees confidence and satisfaction,” Dr Victor Ezeaku, Head of Quality Assurance, disclosed that the NHIA had entered into partnership with some leading drugs manufacturing companies including Roche and Pfizer to guarantee quality service delivery for enrollees.
Ezeaku said this was part of new innovations embarked by the NHIA under the new management ably led by Prof. Sambo.
He said that in order to ensure quality assurance by service providers, the state office had through the enforcement department embarked on quality assurance visits to some service providers.
“We also carryout routine spot visits; training of healthcare facilitators and encouraging healthcare facilitators to shift from cure to prevention,” he said.
Speaking on the comparison between 2004 and 2022 NHIA Act, Mr Smart Mark, Head of Programme department, said the new Act changed the nomenclature from NHIS to NHIA.
“While the 2004 Act made it voluntary for enrollment, the new 2022 Act has made it mandatory for all Nigerians to enroll into the scheme,” he said.
He said that one of the highlights of the new Act was the provision of Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, adding that this was meant for the vulnerable group.
“This is aimed at achieving the Universal Health Coverage in 2030 in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he said.
A principal officer, Abani Uchenna of enrollment department said that the authority had added extra two dependents from the original family of six.
