LISDEL Engages CSOs and Media to Optimize Delivery of Accountability Mechanism and Outcomes for BHCPF in Gombe State

In furtherance with our mandate to improve Government Oversight, Accountability, and Implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) under the Strengthening Government Partnership and Advocacy for Primary Healthcare optimization in Nigeria (SPAG) project, a stakeholders’ engagement workshop was organized with CSOs/Media coalition, GoHealth, SPHCDA, and SMOH Gombe State.

The purpose of the engagement was to agree on a draft accountability framework with reference to the Basic Health Care Provision Fund Monitoring and Evaluation framework, establish vibrant mechanisms to conduct advocacies and accountability activities and identify advocacy and accountability priorities for BHCPF and Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAEH+N) implementation in the state.

It was attended by representatives of the Hon. Commissioner of Health Gombe State, the Executive Secretary Gombe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (GoHealth), Desk Officer, Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) Gombe State, Partners, CSOs and the Media. The workshop features presentations and discussions covering the overview of CSO/Media Coalition in the State, the status of BHCPF implementation in State, Accountability mechanisms and frameworks in the health sector covering Basic Health Care Provision Fund and (RMNCAH+N) in the state.

In his remark Mr. Alhassan Yahaya the coordinator of Maternal Newborn and Child Health Initiative (MNCHI coalition) emphasized that the meeting of CSOs and Media with LISDEL will catalyze efforts towards strengthening Primary Health Care (PHC).

MNCHI is a Network that focuses on accountability and advocacy for Maternal New-born and Child Health Initiative. It is a coalition of Civil Society organizations and media professionals with a common goal for improving maternal, new-born and child health issues in the state. MNCHI which works through CSOs, and Media professionals has the goal of harmonizing efforts to address RMNCAH+N by engaging policy makers and influencers in the State on policies and budgets, community mobilization and engagement on RMNCAH-N issues with a view to proffering solutions.

The BHCPF Desk Officer talked extensively about the Gombe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, stating its aim and objectives. He emphasized the agency’s commitment towards providing Universal Health Coverage to all Gombe state residents through an equitable and transparent mechanism for pooling of resources to finance quality healthcare. Currently the enrollment status in the state stood at, 36,343 of the formal sectors, 13 enrollees from the informal sector and 25,565 of the BHCPF.

Dr. Mohammed A. Kwamee, who represented the Hon. Commissioner of Health Gombe State revealed the progress so far in the state. According to Dr Kwamee, all one hundred and fourteen (114) PHCs in the state have been accredited for BHCPF, State Social Health Insurance Scheme (SSHI) and Hospital Management Board (HSMB) have been established, all wards have functional Ward Development Centers (WDC’s) with the BHCPF being implemented.

He highlighted the need to develop an accountability framework and dashboard for tracking the performance of programs, finances, providers, and other stakeholders in the state and build capacity of stakeholders and CSOs on the framework.

At the end, the CSOs and media coalition agreed to collaborate with SMOH, LISDEL and other stakeholders to ensure the development and implementation of a robust accountability framework for BHCPF and RMNCAH +N in the state.

By Abdul Abdulkadir, LISDEL