By Chisom Okafor

The Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) has held its second quarter data validation meeting with Global Fund programme managers, Monitoring and Evaluation officers and other stakeholders.

The meeting, held on Sept. 30 at East End Hotel and Suites, Awka, reviewed and reconciled data on Global Fund supported health insurance activities in the state during the quarter.

Addressing participants, the Executive Secretary of ASHIA, Dr Augustine Ezeka, appreciated the stakeholders for their efforts and urged them to intensify activities aimed at expanding health insurance coverage for people living with HIV and tuberculosis (TB).

Ezeka stressed the need to ensure that eligible beneficiaries were not left behind in accessing health insurance coverage and necessary healthcare services.

The Global Fund Focal Person, Nurse Ogochukwu Mbonu, presented the action plan for the second quarter validation exercise, saying the meeting provided an opportunity to review findings, clarify observations and ensure that the data accurately reflected programme activities.

Mbonu said enrolment had increased significantly, attributing the development largely to the field National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment exercise conducted to facilitate the registration of eligible beneficiaries.

She urged stakeholders to take greater responsibility for awareness creation and intensify sensitisation efforts to improve enrolment and access to the programme.

The Global Fund Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Miss Assumpta Ejikeme, presented an overview of the implementation of Global Fund supported health insurance for people living with HIV and TB under ASHIA.

The meeting was attended by representatives of Global Fund accredited facilities, implementing partners, programme managers, Monitoring and Evaluation officers and other relevant stakeholders.