Ukana West 2 Community Based Health Insurance (CBHI) Scheme was launched on the 21st August, 2014 in the Primary Health Centre, Ikot Ideh, Essien Udim Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. CBHI is a not for profit organization and provides risk pooling (protection) to cover the cost of health care services. Not for profit health care financing mechanism which is based on solidarity (agreement, oneness) between members and democratically accountable to them. The program is managed by democratically elected members of the community who form the Board of Trustees with other stakeholders (Ministry of Health, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Hospital and the Local Government Council). Ukana West 2 has a catchment area of 19, 257.
In response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic on the ailing health facilities in Nigeria and well-being of households mostly in the rural area, CBHI collaborated with Centre for Clinical Care and Clinical Research (CCCRN) in Akwa Ibom State to identify 204 beneficiaries belonging to groups facing additional vulnerabilities in Ukana West 1 & 2, Ukana East and registered them into CBHI program in September 2020.
To ensure that the identified these groups can access the health facility closest to them, the initiative established CBHI mobile clinics in the three health facilities for a twenty four hour services and a follow up. It also conducted health sensitization program for COVID-19. The initiative provided drugs and dispensaries. and supported logistics for weekly medical doctor visits to the facilities.
This is with the intention to improve the well-being of the selected beneficiaries while also supporting changes in attitude towards visiting health facilities for healthcare services. In addition, there will be improved service delivery and improved service uptake in the facilities. We plan for more community involvement to support the sustainability of the initiative.
For more information, contact the author: Akaninyene Obot, uteeakan@gmail.com
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