The Anambra State Government and key stakeholders have agreed on a coordinated plan to increase the enrolment of women of child-bearing age and other vulnerable groups into the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) scheme by strengthening community mobilisation and addressing barriers created by the mandatory National Identification Number requirement.
The commitment was made at a roundtable discussion organised under the Strengthening Public Accountability for Results and Knowledge (SPARK 2) project, supported by the International Budget Partnership, held in Nnewi.
The engagement brought together representatives of government agencies, civil society organisations, traditional institutions and community groups to identify practical solutions to improving access to health insurance.
Participants included officials of the National Identity Management Commission, National Health Insurance Authority, National Orientation Agency, Anambra State Health Insurance Agency, Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Anambra State Town Unions Council, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities and Community Development Network.
During the engagement, the stakeholders resolved to leverage the ongoing ward-to-ward NIN registration exercise to mobilise women of reproductive age and other vulnerable residents for both NIN registration and enrolment into the state health insurance scheme.
