A total of 223,916 persons including pregnant women have been captured in the basic health insurance scheme plans of the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA), Managing Director, Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi has disclosed.
He also revealed that over 60,000 pregnant women registered with the scheme across all public, primary and secondary facilities in the state under the healthcare the free quality antenatal delivery and post delivery care.
Speaking during the Launch of ASHIA’s Strategic Health Development Plan (SHDP) (2025-2029) in Commemoration of 2024 Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, Onyemaechi said over 15,000 of babies have been delivered in the state safely with zero mortality.
He described the event’s theme, “Health: It’s on the Government”, Onyemaechi as apt and in line with the Soludo-led administration of free quality antenatal and post delivery care as well as recruitment of medical professionals to end era of hospitals without doctors in the state.
His words, “As a responsible government, Mr Governor had not abrogated any of his responsibilities, particularly in area of healthcare services, including rights of persons to attain highest possible quality healthcare, according to UN declaration charter.
“Currently, we have over 60,000 pregnant women registered with us across all public, primary and secondary facilities in the state under the healthcare the free quality antenatal delivery and post delivery care.
“We’ve taken delivery of over 15,000 of babies in the state safely with zero mortality. Humongous resources have gone into the project.
“There’s no hospital in the state without a medical doctor, with the two batches of recruitment of over 500 health workers, including 42 medical doctors by the government.
“The government has also renovated 326 PHCs across the state to ensure supply side is properly covered. Of course, humongous resources have gone into these projects.
The ASHIA boss however identified as mistrust, ignorance and “It’s not my portion” syndrome as major challenges facing the agency, especially on the part of its enrollees.
He said out of the number of its enrollees, 15percent fall under the formal sector, while 85percent fall under the informal sector, a ratio he also identified as another challenge.
He said, “In ASHIA, those who have valid, active, basic health insurance plans with us and those we’re paying capitation for are as at today 223,916 persons.
“This you can access from our self service portal, the first of its kind in Nigeria by a state health insurance scheme.
“But the biggest challenge we have is the “not my portion and God forbid” syndrome. Individuals approach our enrollment as being between the devil and deep blue sea. For them, you are wishing them death. Pregnant women will tell you they’ll deliver like Hebrew women.
“They think they’re immortal and fail to acknowledge that everyone is one major sickness away from poverty and that immortality is an attribute only assigned to one being on earth.
“Another challenge is ignorance of our enrollees. We’ve severally informed them on the number to call in event of denial of services and other benefits which are contained in their charter panflects and also strategically positioned in any facilities of our health providers.
“Whereas many don’t know the number to call, others are reluctant to call, despite our aggressive sensitizations. But we can’t be everywhere at the same time. Those we are alerted of are dealt with. In fact, we’ve had to delist facilities and sanctioned others with fines and warnings, including the big hospitals for flaunting our rules.
“On our part, it’s on record that ASHIA is not indebted to any facilities. We pay capitation before the beginning of every month and fee for service on or before 14th of the month.
“We’re the fastest settlement for fee for service globally. This is unprecedented which remains the contract we have with the providers. So they don’t have option than to provide quality services for the enrollees.”
The ASHIA boss however revealed what he termed “adoption model” the agency came up with as another strategy to increase number of enrollees, especially for the financial incapacitated.
“We came up with adoption model, using community gate keepers, philantropists to pay health insurance premiums for the financial incapacitated, poor and vulnerable.
“Lawmakers, take advantage of their constituency projects to pay the premium for their constituency as well as the executives, wife of the Governor, heads of industries, as well as other influential citizens of the state.
Also speaking, Chairman, House Committee on Health, Tony muobike described achievements of the present administration in health sector as unprecedented.
“What Anambra has achieved in the area of healthcare is unprecedented in the history of the state. This is just another leap in that direction of greatness and achievement by the current administration.
“Today is a time for all players in the industry to have introspection on whether we’ve really achieved our target in delivering our mandates, especially quality healthcare,” he added.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Obiageli Uchebo commended the health agency for its immense contributions to health sector in the state, urging various stakeholders to maximize the yuletide season to enrol more citizens and residents of the state, using the Agency’s adoption model.
