Stakeholders have called on the federal government to enforce compulsory health insurance for all Nigerians, as effort to tackle high rate of under-five deaths in the country.
The Nigerian government and critical stakeholders in the health sector, have over the years, rolled out intervention programmes to improve the health of children in Nigeria; yet, the country still house one of the highest under five mortality in the world.
For instance, the World Health Organisation Africa region (WHOAFRO) revealed that 42 per cent of child deaths occur in countries, with about 857,899 under-5 child deaths recorded in Nigeria alone.
Report from Statista has shown that the main causes of under-five mortality in Nigeria include; Neonatal disorders (22.9 per cent), lower respiratory infections (19.4 per cent), diarrhea (13.2 per cent), malaria (13.9 per cent), meningitis (5.45 per cent), protein-energy malnutrition (2.8 per cent), measles (2.5 per cent), HIV/AIDS (2 per cent), tuberculosis (1.4 per cent), and other sexually transmitted infections (1.6 per cent).
Stakeholders are optimistic that with health insurance coverage, these health conditions would be drastically reduced, thereby improving the health of children in the country.
Health insurance coverage for under-five
No doubt, health insurance is one sure way to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). However, it is sad to note that health insurance coverage for children in Nigeria is still very poor.
For instance, the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 6 (MICS6) revealed that only 845 under-five children, representing 2.7 per cent of the 30,804 of children under age five analysed in the survey that was carried out in Nigeria are covered by any health insurance.
Findings of the survey showed that, states with the least health insurance coverage for children under-five are Kebbi, with only one child covered, out of 1,030 children analysed in the survey; Taraba has only two children covered by any health insurance, out of 628 children analysed by the survey and Abia has only two children covered by health insurance out of 485 children analysed by the survey.
Meanwhile, states like Lagos has up to 137 children, representing 7.9 per cent of the 1,743 children analysed by the study, are covered by any health insurance and Delta state has up to 124 children, representing 19.9 per cent of the 623 children analysed by the survey are covered by any health insurance.
Improving health coverage through NHIA
Meanwhile, stakeholders have called for the support of all Nigerians including stakeholders in the nation’s Health sector in ensuring a successful implementation of the mandatory Health Insurance as stipulated in the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), for the achievement of Universal Health Coverage.
The deputy general manager and coordinator, Lagos state Office, NHIA, Mrs Aisha Haruna Abubakar, while speaking with LEADERSHIP, at the 2022 national Symposium/Awards of the Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) in Lagos said the reason for the enactment of the National Health Insurance Authority Act 2022 which birthed, to improve health insurance coverage for all, irrespective of where one is living or financial status.
Giving the background of the NHIA Act and its roles to the achievement of the universal health coverage, the deputy director said “The signing of NHIA Act 2022 bestows the function to promote, integrate and regulate all health insurance schemes that operate in Nigeria; ensure that health insurance is mandatory for every Nigerian and legal resident and enforce the basic minimum package of health services for all Nigerians across all health insurance schemes operating within the country.
“Others are promote, support and collaborate with States through State Health Insurance schemes to ensure access to quality healthcare; ensure the implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund as rquired by the National Health Act and grant accreditation and re-accreditation to Health Management Organizations (HMOs), Third Party Administrators (TPAs) and Mutual Health Association (MHAs) and HCFs and monitor their performances.”
She said the Act gives approval for the establishment of the Special State Health Insurance Authority (SSHIA) and Federal Capital Territory Scheme even as it highlights that “Mandatory health insurance for every Nigerian and legal residents.
“The Act establishes States and FCT Schemes. This is to strengthen collaboration between NHIA and States for the achievement of Universal Health Coverage Sec 13(1); Establishment of a Scheme for the coverage of employees of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the Federal Civil Service and other relevant groups Sec 13(3) and Implementation of Basic HealthCare Provision Fund in collaboration with States to achieve Universal Health Coverage Sec 24(1)-(6).”
Abubakar revealed that the 2022 Act also included the Third Party Administrators (TPAs) and Mutual Health Association (MHAs) for continuous quality assurance, community mobilization and sensitization and any other roles that they are engaged to perform Section 34(4) & 35(1).
“The Act also set up the Mediation, Conciliation and Arbitration, in that, where there is a dispute amongst parties under the Act, the dispute shall be first referred to the Authority for mediation and conciliation in accordance with the Operational Guidelines and when Reconciliation fails, parties may resort to Arbitration Sec 47.”
Abubakar said, the law has also given approval for the establishment of vulnerable group fund which, according to her “Gives hope to 83 million vulnerable Nigerians.”
“The signing into Law of the NHIA Act 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, is historic and it is a milestone achievement. It has not only crowned the efforts of the current management and major stakeholders in the Health sector but its implementation is strategic to changing the health insurance landscape in Nigeria,” the deputy director stated.
With the support of critical Stakeholders, the achievement of Universal Health Coverage is assured, Abubakar stated, adding that, “Let us join hands to fulfil the mandate given to us through this instrument of the Law,” she appealed.
President, Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria (HCPAN) Dr. Jimmy Arigbabuwo, said the world is suffering from emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, adding that enforcing compulsory health insurance in Nigeria will help to protect Nigerians from dying as a result of diseases that could be prevented if they have access to quality health services.
