By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Bauchi State Government with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has inaugurated the State Steering Committee on Actuarial Analysis to workout modalities that will make healthcare services affordable, sustainable, accessible and equitable to people across the State.
The Committee which has membership from all the Health sector related agencies was inaugurated by the State Commissioner of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Mohammed Sani Dambam at the end of a 3-day capacity building funded by UNFPA in collaboration with Bauchi State Health Contributory Management Agency (BASHCMA). The capacity building was on health financing and actuarial analysis which was to herald the commencement of the support on Actuarial Analysis from UNFPA.
While Inaugurating the Committee at the Polio Emergency Operation Centre of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Commissioner stressed the importance of the Committee in effective and efficient service delivery.
He charged the Committee to chart a way that will make healthcare services accessible and equitable to the people of Bauchi state, especially those in the hintherland and vulnerable considering their situation.
Mohammed Sani Dambam assured that the Ministry is ready to give guidance where necessary and full support for the success of the Committee in its assignment.
Introducing the procured Actuarial Analysis Consulting firm at the end of the 3 day workshop, the UNFPA Sexual and Reproductive Health/Health Systems Strengthening Specialist, Dr. Oluwatosin Kolade, emphasized the relevance of this strategic support to the state which is instrumental in the country’s journey to crashing maternal and newborn mortality by leveraging the opportunity to mainstream high-impact-low-cost interventions like family planning into a prepayment financing mechanism -the health benefit package of the Bauchi State Health Contributory Management Agency (BASHCMA).
In her message, the UNFPA Resident Representative for Nigeria, Ms. Muriel Mafico, reiterated that UNFPA is committed to the partnership with Bauchi State Government, especially in ensuring zero unmet needs for family planning and zero maternal death.
She assured that UNFPA team in Bauchi State will continue to work with the heads of MDAs to achieve the set objectives of the Actuarial Analysisto strengthen the state social health insurance scheme.
Muriel Mafico whose speech was read by the Sexual and Reproductive Health Analyst, UNFPA Bauchi State office, Ms. Deborah Tabara further assured that UNFPA will continue ensuring a sustainable environment for programmes to continue to thrive in Bauchi State thanking the head of Agencies for their support.
According to her, “We would not have gotten this far without your cooperation and support. As we go on to the remaining parts of the roadmap that will lead us to eventually sustainably financing the social health scheme and family planning, using state level data to make informed decisions with regards to the Bauchi State actuarial analysis, UNFPA reiterates its commitment to continue to work with the Bauchi State Government and with the key agencies and respective technical staff.”
“We will leave no one behind in this process. We will remain consistent, and we look forward to your cooperation. At the end of the day, it is going to be our data. It’s going to be for the improvement of the lives of women, children, and other vulnerable groups in Bauchi State. We thank you very much, and we look forward to a successful programme.”
