Health stakeholders in Anambra State have adopted a coordinated strategy to boost enrolment into the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) scheme by taking advantage of the ongoing ward-to-ward National Identification Number (NIN) registration exercise to reach women of child-bearing age, children, the elderly and other vulnerable groups.
The decision was reached during a multi-stakeholder roundtable organised under the Strengthening Public Accountability for Results and Knowledge (SPARK 2) project, supported by the International Budget Partnership (IBP).
Participants at the meeting identified the mandatory NIN requirement as a major obstacle preventing many vulnerable residents from accessing healthcare services under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
The forum brought together representatives of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), National Orientation Agency (NOA), Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA), Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ASPHCDA), Anambra State Town Unions Council (ASTUC), Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Community Development Network (COMEN), traditional rulers, civil society organisations and community leaders.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Anambra State Ministry of Health, Dr. Obiageli Uchebo, said thousands of indigent residents have been unable to benefit from government-backed healthcare programmes because they lack the required NIN.
She explained that while a NIN is compulsory for enrolment into the ASHIA health insurance scheme, many vulnerable groups—including children, elderly persons and low-income households—have yet to register.
According to her, the dialogue provided an opportunity for government agencies and community stakeholders to jointly develop practical solutions that would improve healthcare access for underserved populations across the state.
The Director of Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC), Nnewi, Rev. Fr. Benedict Okolo, urged participants to move beyond identifying challenges and focus on implementing practical recommendations that would improve maternal and child healthcare through wider health insurance coverage.
Similarly, the Executive Director of the Civil Rights Council (CRC), Okey Onyeka, described the engagement as a timely intervention aimed at removing barriers preventing pregnant women and nursing mothers from benefiting from health insurance.
The Executive Director of the Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC), Ugochi Ehiahuruike, commended the collaboration among government institutions, development partners and community leaders, expressing confidence that the partnership would significantly increase enrolment among women of reproductive age.
She also praised the support of NIMC, NHIA and ASHIA, while calling for sustained cooperation with local government authorities and community leaders to expand health insurance coverage across the state.
Introducing the SPARK 2 project, JDPC Programme Officer, Onyekachi Ololo, said the initiative was established to strengthen public accountability and improve primary healthcare delivery in six local government areas of Anambra State.
Ololo noted that feedback from community engagements revealed that the mandatory NIN requirement remained one of the biggest barriers to health insurance enrolment, making the stakeholders’ dialogue necessary.
He added that the project also supports improved referrals from traditional birth attendants, capacity building for Ward Development Committees and health facility managers, as well as sustained community advocacy through regular town hall meetings.
Representatives of the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ASPHCDA) urged Ward Development Committee chairmen to intensify grassroots awareness campaigns and mobilise women of child-bearing age to enrol in the health insurance scheme, stressing that quality healthcare should be accessible to all.
The Chairman of Anambra JONAPWD, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke, represented by Philip Onwubuya, acknowledged progress in enrolling persons with disabilities but called for better referral systems, improved availability of essential medicines and expanded health insurance coverage for people living with disabilities.
The NIMC Local Government Coordinator, Simeon Modebe, representing the State Coordinator, announced that the ongoing ward-to-ward NIN registration exercise has been extended until further notice and remains free of charge. He urged residents to report any cases of extortion during the registration process.
At the end of the meeting, stakeholders resolved to strengthen collaboration among relevant agencies, intensify public sensitisation campaigns and maximise the ongoing ward-to-ward NIN registration exercise to increase health insurance enrolment across communities.
They also pledged to encourage affluent members of their communities to assist indigent residents in meeting documentation costs associated with obtaining a NIN where necessary.
