Anambra to commence basic healthcare provision, today

… Holds one-day orientation for primary healthcare workers

ANAMBRA State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) held a one-day orientation to prepare the primary healthcare workers for commencement of basic healthcare provision fund from today.

  The exercise, which was for all accredited primary healthcare workers across the 21 local government area of the state took place at the Prof. Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka.

In a speech at the event, the Executive Secretary, ASHIA, Simeon Onyemaechi said that the orientation exercise was “sequel to successful registration of 28,246 poor and vulnerable ndi Anambra into the National Basic Healthcare Provision Fund.

 Dr. Onyemaechi, who stated that the state government is to commence full implementation of the programme from April 1, across the state, added that all the Basis Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) beneficiaries will start receiving medical services free of charge from the date of commencement.

He enjoined those registered for the programme to visit their primary healthcare centres to collect their BHCPF Identify cards.

Dr. Onyemaechi showered encomiums on Gov. Willie Obiano for making this programme a reality for ndi Anambra by paying the state’s counterpart funding on time.

The executive secretary said that Anambra was one of the first seven states in Nigeria to pay its counterpart fund for the poor and vulnerable which had made ndi Anambra eligible to benefit from the scheme geared toward achieving Universal Health Coverage.

Earlier while declaring the event open, the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala, welcomed the officers in charge of the primary healthcare centres to the programme, advising them to pay attention to guidelines. The guideline was provided to them, so as to aid smooth implementation of the programme by April 1.

Dr. Okpala cautioned that the Health Ministry, in conjunction with ASHIA had mapped out a pragmatic strategy to discipline and sanction every defaulter and noted it be a priority to the state’s Health Sector.

Present at the event include the Permanent Secretary, Anambra State Ministry of Health, Mr Linus Nwankwo, Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Health Development Agency, Dr. Chioma Ezenyimulu.

Others are Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor on Health Insurance and Pension Matters, Mr Dozie Okpalaugo, member, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria,  Chisom Uchem.