Tag: ASHIA

NNEWI NORTH INDIGENES ENROLLS INTO ASHIA THROUGH ITS ADOPTION MODEL

By Chisom Okafor :

No fewer than 200 indigenes from Nnewi North LGA, have been enrolled into the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) through its adoption model, funded by Mr. Oliver Okonkwo.

The enrollment event was held at Umuzu village hall in Nnewi, where ASHIA representatives organized a sensitization session to educate beneficiaries about the program’s benefits and processes. Mrs. Antonia Okoli, speaking on behalf of ASHIA, explained that the health insurance scheme would provide beneficiaries with access to healthcare services across multiple hospitals without financial strain.

She stressed that the agency’s network of accredited hospitals would allow enrollees to choose the medical facilities best suited to their needs, ensuring that quality healthcare is both accessible and affordable.

Mr. Okonkwo, in his address to the community, expressed gratitude to the ASHIA team for facilitating the enrollment process and educating the beneficiaries. He emphasized that health insurance is a critical need, especially given the high costs of healthcare that can be financially burdensome for individuals and families.

He urged the community members to prioritize their health by seeking professional medical attention instead of self-medication or consulting unqualified practitioners, practices that are often prevalent due to lack of access to proper healthcare.

The beneficiaries, including Mrs. Gloria Muojekwu and Mr. Okey Obeleagu, were visibly appreciative of the gesture, acknowledging that the health insurance would enable them to receive quality healthcare at minimal cost.

*Chisom is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State.

NNOBI INDIGENES ENROLL INTO ASHIA THROUGH ITS ADOPTION MODEL

By Chisom Okafor :

No fewer than 700 Nnobi indigenes have been enrolled into the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA).

The sponsors of this enrollment includes; Sir Pius Ufudo Foundation, Nnobi US Diaspora Health Group, and Okigbo family.

The event, held at Sir Pius Ufudo Complex in St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Nnobi featured a sensitization session by ASHIA representative, Dr Ngozi Ifediora.

Dr. Ifediora assured that ASHIA facilities in the community can handle the enrollees health issues, and will make referrals when need arises.

She noted that there will be a monitoring team to ensure that the enrollees make good use of the opportunity, especially for medical checkups, adding that those found wanting shall be replaced, saying that there is a plan to ensure that ASHIA beneficiaries access healthcare services in any part of the country.

On his part, an indigenous private medical practitioner with facility in the community, Dr Mike Omenugha, who gave testimonies of benefits of the scheme to ASHIA beneficiaries, thanked the sponsors for their humanitarian gesture, calling for people to regularly do medical checkups, avoid self-medication and patronizing quacks.

Some beneficiaries, including Mr Gilbert Oguegbulu and Mrs Lucy Obeleagu commended their benefactors for the opportunity to access quality healthcare at little or no cost. Some of the 464 ASHIA beneficiaries of the previous year, attended the event.

*Chisom is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State.

ASHIA MD PRESENTS ID CARDS TO 21 APGA EXCO MEMBERS FROM NNOBI WARD ONE ENROLLED BY OMENUGHA

By Chisom Okafor :

The Managing Director of Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA), Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi, has presented beneficiary identity cards to the Special Adviser to Governor Soludo on Youth Empowerment Programme, Dr. Nelson Omenugha, for the 21 executive members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) from Nnobi Ward One.

Additionally, Dr. Onyemaechi provided 21 pamphlets outlining the benefit package to ensure that the beneficiaries are fully informed and receive their entitled benefits.

During the card presentation at the ASHIA complex, Awka, Dr Onyemaechi, noted that the scheme has remained instrumental to quality and affordable healthcare services in Anambra.

He appreciated Dr Omenugha for the gesture and encouraged the beneficiaries to access the services and give feedback to the agency to enable them serve Ndi Anambra better.

Receiving the cards, Dr Omenugha, emphasized his interest in ensuring productivity through properly taking care of the people doing the work and his deepest concern on healthy living of his people.

He noted that getting his ward executive members enrolled into ASHIA is part of his contributions to the growth of APGA, good governance and Anambra State in general.

The Chairman of APGA, Nnobi ward one, Chief Frank-Iyke Ezeanya, in a vote of thanks appreciated Dr Omenugha for his support and Dr Onyemaechi for the good job he is doing in ASHIA.

He promised greater commitment to mobilizing support for Governor Soludo, growth of APGA and the state at large.

*Okafor is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State *

ASHIA INAUGURATES TWG FOR STRATEGIC HEALTH DEVELOPMENT PLAN

By Chisom Okafor :

The Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA), has inaugurated a Technical Working Group (TWG) comprising of key stakeholders on health to plan and develop a Strategic Health Development Plan that will last from 2024 to 2029.

The two day workshop took place at IDK learning Centre in Awka.

Declaring the event open, the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike explained the importance of the TWG to think through on how to expand the health insurance coverage of the state particularly the informal sector and how to implement the mandatoriness of the scheme through innovative strategies of businesses providing evidence of health insurance certification before they can operate.

Dr. Obidike applauded the MD/CEO of ASHIA for representing the health insurance agency in Anambra and nationwide.

On his part, the Chairman, Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Mr Tony Muobike, spoke on success achieved with a predetermined plan (SHDP) and a strong legislative framework as the bedrock of every project.

He gave his support by promising necessary legislation with the House of Assembly or draft new legislations that will be passed in the House of assembly.

Giving an overview of the workshop, the Managing Director of ASHIA, Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi said that the plan will look carefully at how the agency will strategically increase their coverage to enroll more into the scheme, the practical steps they need to take to achieve their objectives.

Dr. Onyemaechi noted that because the staff of the agency are integral part of the stakeholders developing the plan, they will have an institutionalize memory of the document even when he must have exited the position in the future, expressing optimism that his would be successor will continue with the plan.

According to the ASHIA MD, the plan will equally bring out the practical steps they need to take on month-to-month and year -to-year bases, how to source the resources they will leverage on among others, describing the document as timely.

The event attracted relevant stakeholders, representatives of the National Health Insurance Agency, WHO, Anambra State Ministry of Agriculture, State Bureau of Statistics, Research Consultants, Ward Chairmen, Civil Society Organizations, others.

*Chisom is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State.

ENUGU STATE UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE AGENCY TEAM UNDERSTUDIES ANAMBRA STATE HEALTH INSURANCE AGENCY (ASHIA)

By Chisom Okafor :

The Enugu State Agency for Universal Health Coverage team, understudies the State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) in a bid to improve the operations of their Health Insurance Scheme.

The Delegates from Enugu State Agency for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) paid a visit to ASHIA office in Awka to understudy the operations of the Scheme with a specific focus on the Claims management system for the Basic Healthcare provision fund (BHCPF) program and other programmes of ASHIA.

The Managing Director of ASHIA, Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi while receiving the two-man delegation assured that they will be adequately equipped with knowledge of Health Insurance practice, Claims management as well as the background of Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF).

He gave them the general overview of Health insurance as it is practiced globally, then narrowed it down to the national and state health insurance schemes operations in Nigeria.

The MD, who spoke on the background of the BHCPF said that National Health Act 2014 in section 11 provides for a minimum of 1% of consolidated revenue of the Federal Government to be set aside to provide basic minimum package of health services to all Nigerians.

He further explained that the bodies charged with the mandate to implement this federal government policy include the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) through their subnational equivalence.

Dr. Onyemaechi noted that Claims Management begins from when the enrollee is still at the hospital, adding that every Claim starts with pre authorization code request that is sent when the request is approved and service rendered then Claims for payment are sent to the Agency at the end of every month.

He assured the visitors that the ASHIA team would provide them with all the knowledge they require.

“We just don’t teach theory , my team will show you the practical aspects, you will also visit some of our healthcare providers to get on-site hands-on experience.

He encouraged them to have an open mind and feel free to ask all the questions they had regarding Health Insurance and BHCPF programmes.

The Leader of the team, Dr. Marcus Agu, on behalf of the Enugu State Commissioner for Health, extended his appreciation to the MD for the opportunity to meet with him personally, and assured him of their willingness to learn from him.

Present at the meeting includes Dr. Mary Chukwuma, a member of the Enugu State delegates and ASHIA Heads of Departments.

*Chisom is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State.