Piloting mutual health association establishment in Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria: Lessons learned
Background: Predominant out-of-pocket financing of health expenditures in low- and -middle-income countries (LMICs) remains a major setback to achieving universal health coverage (UHC). Nigeria has been attempting to bridge the gap through health insurance schemes targeting both the formal and infor...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2022-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Medicine and Health Development |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijmhdev.com/article.asp?issn=2635-3695;year=2022;volume=27;issue=1;spage=43;epage=51;aulast=Obikeze |
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| author | Eric Obikeze Nkoli Uguru Frances Ilika Ijeoma Iwuora Tobechi Ojiako Arthur Idoko Jane Frances Chioke Ngozi Okoronkwo Ibrahim Yisa Bond Anyaehie Ed Nwobodo |
| author_facet | Eric Obikeze Nkoli Uguru Frances Ilika Ijeoma Iwuora Tobechi Ojiako Arthur Idoko Jane Frances Chioke Ngozi Okoronkwo Ibrahim Yisa Bond Anyaehie Ed Nwobodo |
| author_sort | Eric Obikeze |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Predominant out-of-pocket financing of health expenditures in low- and -middle-income countries (LMICs) remains a major setback to achieving universal health coverage (UHC). Nigeria has been attempting to bridge the gap through health insurance schemes targeting both the formal and informal sectors of the population. Objective: This paper aimed to provide a roadmap to assist in establishing community-based health insurance (CBHI) in any religious Nigerian Community. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design using qualitative methods was used for the study. The study areas were local government areas (LGAs) that make up the Catholic Diocese of Enugu. Extensive advocacies were used at various levels of the organizational structure of the Diocese to ensure buy-in. Organizational structure of the scheme was set up with nine major stakeholders who played active roles in the advocacies and the design of operational guidelines. Training of the stakeholders was conducted and two types of benefit package were adopted. A mutual health association (MHA), called Ndubuisi MHA, was approved and incorporated based on the NHIS model called intermediary method. Results: Nigeria’s first faith-based CBHI-Ndubuisi MHA with over 3000 enrollees was set up, approved, and registered with Enugu North LGA, Enugu State Ministry of Health and Corporate Affairs Commission. The scheme is running conveniently with a purpose-built administrative structure, monitoring and evaluation plan, and benefit packages. Conclusion: Establishing CBHI through faith-based organizations is possible and sustainable with underlying equity principles. The model used in this study can be implemented in any organization that has an element of mutual solidarity and existing administrative structures that can be used as a platform. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:44:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-95f311b2531048e7a7a509a77fd69c5b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2635-3695 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:44:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Medicine and Health Development |
| spelling | doaj.art-95f311b2531048e7a7a509a77fd69c5b2022-12-22T02:49:50ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsInternational Journal of Medicine and Health Development2635-36952022-01-01271435110.4103/ijmh.IJMH_4_21Piloting mutual health association establishment in Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria: Lessons learnedEric ObikezeNkoli UguruFrances IlikaIjeoma IwuoraTobechi OjiakoArthur IdokoJane Frances ChiokeNgozi OkoronkwoIbrahim YisaBond AnyaehieEd NwobodoBackground: Predominant out-of-pocket financing of health expenditures in low- and -middle-income countries (LMICs) remains a major setback to achieving universal health coverage (UHC). Nigeria has been attempting to bridge the gap through health insurance schemes targeting both the formal and informal sectors of the population. Objective: This paper aimed to provide a roadmap to assist in establishing community-based health insurance (CBHI) in any religious Nigerian Community. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design using qualitative methods was used for the study. The study areas were local government areas (LGAs) that make up the Catholic Diocese of Enugu. Extensive advocacies were used at various levels of the organizational structure of the Diocese to ensure buy-in. Organizational structure of the scheme was set up with nine major stakeholders who played active roles in the advocacies and the design of operational guidelines. Training of the stakeholders was conducted and two types of benefit package were adopted. A mutual health association (MHA), called Ndubuisi MHA, was approved and incorporated based on the NHIS model called intermediary method. Results: Nigeria’s first faith-based CBHI-Ndubuisi MHA with over 3000 enrollees was set up, approved, and registered with Enugu North LGA, Enugu State Ministry of Health and Corporate Affairs Commission. The scheme is running conveniently with a purpose-built administrative structure, monitoring and evaluation plan, and benefit packages. Conclusion: Establishing CBHI through faith-based organizations is possible and sustainable with underlying equity principles. The model used in this study can be implemented in any organization that has an element of mutual solidarity and existing administrative structures that can be used as a platform.http://www.ijmhdev.com/article.asp?issn=2635-3695;year=2022;volume=27;issue=1;spage=43;epage=51;aulast=Obikezecommunity-based health insurancehealth insurancemutual health association |
| spellingShingle | Eric Obikeze Nkoli Uguru Frances Ilika Ijeoma Iwuora Tobechi Ojiako Arthur Idoko Jane Frances Chioke Ngozi Okoronkwo Ibrahim Yisa Bond Anyaehie Ed Nwobodo Piloting mutual health association establishment in Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria: Lessons learned International Journal of Medicine and Health Development community-based health insurance health insurance mutual health association |
| title | Piloting mutual health association establishment in Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria: Lessons learned |
| title_full | Piloting mutual health association establishment in Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria: Lessons learned |
| title_fullStr | Piloting mutual health association establishment in Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria: Lessons learned |
| title_full_unstemmed | Piloting mutual health association establishment in Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria: Lessons learned |
| title_short | Piloting mutual health association establishment in Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria: Lessons learned |
| title_sort | piloting mutual health association establishment in enugu state southeast nigeria lessons learned |
| topic | community-based health insurance health insurance mutual health association |
| url | http://www.ijmhdev.com/article.asp?issn=2635-3695;year=2022;volume=27;issue=1;spage=43;epage=51;aulast=Obikeze |
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