Group Calls for Greater Public Awareness on Basic Healthcare Provision Fund in Anambra

By Praise Chinecherem

Civil Rights Concern (CRC) has called for intensified public enlightenment on the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) for the provision of health services in Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in Anambra State.

Executive Director, Okey Onyeka made the call during review of audit framework for BHCPF by stakeholders in the State as well as apprising of an earlier work on community policy on free antenatal care and delivery with skilled birth attendants.

He argued that if residents are aware of the funds and the services they were meant to cover, nobody, especially expectant mothers would die of pregnancy due to ignorance of such services in the state.

He said, “The essence of the engagement is to apprise stakeholders of how the funds are managed, values accrued to the funds and other supports provided to enable the PHCs carry out their services more efficiently.

“Due to the critical value of the BHCPF to the PHCs, we’re really anxious to see the funds are properly utilized for the benefits of the communities they are meant for.

“Regrettably, not much of the budgeted funds are being implemented by government, especially at the PHCs level. That’s why it’s important to ensure these funds are properly deployed for the anticipated results.

“We’re also looking at maternal healthcare which the funds are also meant to cater for. Yes, state government has continued to provide free delivery and antenatal as well as drugs for pregnant women.

“But not all of them are aware of these free services, especially at the grassroots. There’s need for aggressive awareness through the community leaders, churches, markets and organisations.

“If people are aware these services exist, nobody is expected to die of pregnancy due to ignorance of the free services.”

Reacting to inaccessibility of some PHCs to the locals, Onyeka described such development as part of policy somersaults and breaches that occur in process of project management, not just in Anambra but across the country.

“Policies influence several things, especially by politicians for their personal interests. Some of them, while struggling to site constituency projects in their communities scarcely consider its accessibility to the people.

“Again, they don’t consult the people such projects are meant for. Some communities are now compelled to put up another health facility close to them and move the equipment from the remote facility to the one with proximity advantage.

“This non-consideration of the people has been a serious challenge. But if these projects are discussed with the people, they can even provide land for such facility to be sited within their locality.

Also speaking, State Chairman of Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) , Comrade Ugo Okeke commended state government for its free healthcare services, especially to his members, but lamented information gap and access to the services.

“We’re aware of free healthcare services rendered by Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) which we’ve sensitized our members of. But the challenge we have is accessibility of these services.

“For example, there’s a form to fill to get registered before one can benefit from the free services. Whereas some of our members don’t know when these forms are available, some who know can’t access them.

“Persons with hearing or virtually impaired, for example can’t access such information. Again, accessing the healthcare facilities where the services are rendered pose its own challenge, particularly to those on wheelchair.

“There’s need for synergy between ASHIA, the PHCs and our organization. Interestingly, we have structures called Disabilities Community Centre (DCC) with a representative for each community.

“If they can collaborate with us, that will help them know where our members are and how to assist us. Otherwise those free services will continue to remain unutilized,” he said.