By Nnedinma Okeke
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) had on May 20, 2026 paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA), Dr Obianuju Chinelo Okoye at the ASPHCDA office complex, Awka.
The visit was to present findings and recommendations from the first phase September 2025, and second phase May 2026 re-accreditation exercise of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) implementing the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) in Anambra State.
The NHIA State Coordinator, Mr Mark Udo Samuel noted that NHIA were critical Partners especially in the area of delivering benefits of BHCPF to people across communities and in the State; ndi Anambra at large.
He explained that they embarked on re-accreditation exercise of PHCs implementing the BHCPF last year, rounded off its first phase in September 2025, and just recently rounded off its second phase in May 2026 and with ASPHCDA being in charge of the facilities, it was imperative to let the Agency know the findings.
“This is a call to action, as we are here to share the findings and recommendations with ASPHCDA, so they look at it and see modalities that could be put in place.”
He stressed that challenge of lack of qualified health workers, could lead to further challenge in delivering quality healthcare services to the people. “What matters is the consistence in trying to solve these challenges as where there is a will, there is a way,” he said.
Mr Samuel urged that the Agency takes a look at the NHIA re-accreditation exercise recommendations, as the observations should serve as a guide. “Pick the challenges ASPHCDA can tackle, so by the time we return for another phase of re-accreditation, we would see some improvement in the system,” he urged.
He, further, encouraged that the Agency takes a holistic look at how the BHCPF is used especially in the basic features that hinder service delivery. “It is important that there be improvement in the findings, so the Centres will continue to be on the list of facilities to qualify for the BHCPF,” he explained.
The Executive Secretary thanked the team for the visit and their exercise in facilities across the State. “My administration as ES ASPHCDA recently commenced and right now, we are working to ensure that facilities were on longer under lock and key.
“We are working to place healthcare workers in facilities not too far from their place of residence to curb excuses of absenteeism or lateness to work. While that is ongoing, we are still checking for ghost workers. It would not be easy but we have to get it right in human resources for health, then other things can follow.
“In my meeting with Directors of Primary Healthcare form the 21 LGAs of the State, there were complaints about non- functional solar light in PHCs and right now, we are looking for ways to ensure they are fixed. From your findings, we will work around them and make sure that an impact is made.
“Training is part of the activities that would be carried out from the Anambra State PHC Leadership Challenge fund. It is a continuous process. The fund will also aid in fixing repairs in the State Cold Chain, also some renovations will be made. To get things right, we have to be on the right track,” Dr Okoye added.
The ES, then, expressed gratitude to the NHIA for their discoveries and findings in the field, and for reporting same back to the Agency. She assured that the establishment would take thorough look at the findings, and see how much they can do to ensure the needed changes and improvement in the BHCPF facilities as recommended.
The visit also had in attendance; NHIA Head of Standard Quality Assurance/Enforcement – Dr Chiamaka Marysonia Ezeamekwe and Assistant Director, BHCPF Focal Person – Mr Remigius Obetta.
Nnedinma is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
