BNSHIA holds sensitization meeting with NGOs in Benue State
The Executive Secretary, Benue State Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Kenneth Nyinongo Korve has expressed the Agency's readiness to partner with NGOs under the umbrella of BENGONET. He made this statement during a one - day orientation workshop with NGOs held at Greg and Co. in Makurdi, recently.
Dr. Korve who presented a paper on Health Financing Systems and Reforms, stated that financing has three distinctive values: Accumulation of funds which is pooling of resources together in one basket; mobilization which means raising of revenue, pooling and having a strategic purchase while allocation of funds is aimed at making finances valuable and available.
He re-emphasized that risk pooling in the health system is key and this serves as a major challenge of existing health financing systems in Nigeria. He lay credence that one of the challenges is low tax- base for raising funds, insufficient, volatile external funds and inequalities in the services utilization and health outcomes with public expenditure frequently benefiting the rich than the poor which has disadvantaged groups in the health insurance scheme. Other challenges were limited accountability/ transparency in financing systems, contributing to the prevalence of informal payment and creating scope for resource mismanagement.
Accumulation of funds which is pooling of resources together in one basket; mobilization which means raising of revenue, pooling and having a strategic purchase while allocation of funds is aimed at making finances valuable and available.
The Executive Secretary gave NGOs the sole responsibility of handling the Informal Sector and tasked them to do advocacy and mobilization, sensitization, facilitate registration and payment of contribution of 15000 Naira per person/ per year. They are to monitor, evaluate and assess the quality of health services and complaints management may be assigned by the BNSHIA from time to time.
Prof Korve also gave NGOs requirement for engagement which include organizational profile, evidence of registration, past experience, Staff strength and level of ICT compliance. Other requirements include contact persons and physical presence of operational office /Office address while final selection will be done based on merit.
Pharm. Moses Asoo, Head, Planning, Research and Statistics who led the discussion at the Orientation, advised Participants to keep an open mind so as to learn and even enrich themselves with the knowledge of Health Insurance. He also said this medium could be a great way to seek possible collaboration between the Scheme and NGOs.
In the same vain, Dr. Isaac Utera did justice on overview of BNSHIS that Benue State Health Insurance Agency is a body cooperate established by law no. 8 of Benue State House of Assembly. This law was signed into effect on the 18th of October, 2018 under the auspices of Governor Samuel Ortom which mandated for all residents of the state to be on the Scheme. The principal objective of the Agency shall be to promote, regulate, supervise and ensure the effective administration of the Benue Health Insurance Scheme.
Dr Utera also briefed participants on BNSHIA achievements recorded from January, 2021 to date since the New Executive Secretary's assumption of duty after the demise of late Anthony Egwu, the pioneer, Executive Secretary, BNSHIA.
Mrs. Shimenenge Kyaagba, State Coordinator, BENGONET presented an overview of BENGONET activities and benefits for NGOs participation at the initial stage for mobilization of Informal Sector employees. She gave a closing remark and appreciated BNSHIA management and staff for organizing a fruitful orientation workshop with NGOs and giving them the task of handling the informal sector.