LISDEL Partners Federal Ministry of Health to Provide Visibility for the BHCPF

In a two-day stakeholder meeting convened by The Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) with support from the Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL) a Knowledge Management and Communication Strategy for the BHCPF has been developed.

The workshop which held on the 23rd and 24th of June 2022 at the Chida International Hotel Abuja was convened for the purpose of the workshop was to review the draft BHCPF Knowledge Management and Communication (KM&C) Strategy. During the meeting a work plan to implement the strategy was also developed.

Key participants during the workshop included stakeholders from the FMoH, MOC, the BHCPF Gateways including the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and the National Emergency Treatment Committee (NEMTC). Other participants included the State Social/Health Insurance Schemes/Agencies, State Primary Health Care Development Agencies, Departments of Planning Research and Statistics, BHCPF focal persons/desk officers, Secretaries of the State Oversight Committees of the BHCPF, Development partners, CSOs and the Media.

The MOC Secretary Dr. Chris Isopunwu while presenting an overview of the BHCPF and the need for the KM&C strategy stated that despite the huge investment by the government, people still do not have access to adequate information about its information. The KM&C therefore will serve the purpose of creating awareness to increase its utilization and expand access to services, as well as raise the accountability bar for the BHCPF implementation across boards.

In her goodwill message, the Executive Director of LISDEL, Mrs. Juliana Abude-Aribo reiterated the need KM&C with buy-in from the highest policy makers across all levels, so as to fast-track its adoption and subsequent implementation.

The BHCPF established under section 11 of the National Health Act (NHAct), 2014 is proof of Nigeria’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage. It guarantees access to a basic minimum package of quality health services. Its implementation aims at increasing the fiscal space for health and strengthening the national health system, particularly at the primary health care level.

To provide visibility and access to information; and as one of the measures to ensure transparency, accountability, efficiency, and value for money, it is necessary to put in place knowledge management and communication mechanisms as the BHCPF is disbursed and implemented.

By Philip Akoso (LISDEL)