Continuous refusal of the Nigeria Union of Teachers and Trade Union Congress in Ebonyi State to endorse enabling documents is responsible for the delay in commencement of the Health Insurance scheme for Ebonyi State workers.
The Executive Secretary, Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency, Prof. Uzoma Mary-Rose Agwu, disclosed this.
Agwu spoke during a two-day Media Engagement on Ebonyi State Health Financing Landscape.
The event, held on Wednesday and Thursday in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, was organised by the USAID-funded Integrated Health Programme in collaboration with the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency.
Professor Agwu, while flagging off the Workshop, explained that the Ebonyi State health Insurance Ccheme was established by Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency Law in 2018 to provide easy and equitable access to quality health services for all Ebonyians without exposing them to financial risk.
She stated that the Agency through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund was currently providing care to over 36,681 vulnerable persons, including pregnant women, children and the aged in Ebonyi State, out of which 2,500 is sponsored by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Agwu, however, regretted that the failure of the formal sector in the State to key into the scheme has been of great concern to the Agency.
The development, according to her, has continued to both frustrate and obscure the activities of the Agency in the State.
She reiterated that the State Government has long made ready its counterpart contribution for the commencement of the scheme for civil and public servants in the State, and called on the media as critical stakeholders to help the agency secure compliance from the Labour leaders through their reportage.
Agwu said: “The State Government and EBSHIA have done all things necessary for the kick-off of the scheme for the formal sector.
“Though the leadership of the State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress has appended its signature, the refusal of the leadership of some labour Unions in the State: the Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Union of Teachers, to sign to the agreement for commencement of premium deduction from workers salaries has been responsible for the delay in its commencement for civil servants.
“So, we need advocacy; do your research to make the leaders comply.
“We need it.”
Making presentations on the elements of Universal Health Coverage and contributions of USAID-IHP, Chidinma Eneze, Health Finance Advisor for IHP, explained that the project has made tremendous impacts in Strengthening health systems in the State while increasing access to facilities.
Eneze noted that apart from consultancy services and other technical supports to the State’s health sector, USAID-IHP, through its Open Maternity Days initiative and Primary Health Care Extension Services, has so far reached about 2,937 pregnant women with health services within the year, among other achievements.
She added that IHP has continued to work in synergy with the State Health Insurance Agency to strengthen its operations in the State towards the goals of universal health coverage.
On the objective of the meeting, Eneze stated that it was to create media awareness of public health expenditure trends in Ebonyi State as well as on the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund implementation, including sources and flow of fund.
She added that the meeting was aimed at enabling the media increase their awareness about the State health insurance scheme, improve their capacity to conduct evidence-based reporting of health financing activities in the State, as well as serve as catalyst for improved transparency, accountability, and increased health funding.
Other resource persons at the event, including the Director of Programmes, EBSHIA, Dr. Emma Oghalu, and BHCPF Focal Person/Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Leonard Alegu, took turn to expose participants to the operations of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund gateways: National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and the State Health Insurance Agency.
Participants identified poor funding for the health sector, poor policy implementation, corruption and inadequate human resources for health as some of the factors hindering the attainment of the Universal Health coverage in Nigeria.
The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ebonyi State Council, Comrade Tony Nwizi, who also participated in the training, pledged increased collaboration of the media with the State Health Insurance Agency to fully achieve its goals in the State.