Delta, NPC, UNICEF partner on inclusive healthcare scheme

To enhance healthcare service uptake in underserved riverine communities, Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC), in collaboration with United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and National Population Commission (NPC), has established an “Access to Healthcare Service” programme for poor and vulnerable residents.

According to a statement by Director General/Chief Executive Officer of DSCHC, Dr. Ben Nkechika, the bodies, will, from next week, ensure children born in the state’s healthcare facilities (HCFs) benefit from free medicare under the DSCHS Equity Health Plan/ Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) programme and receive NPC-approved birth certificates.

In the first phase of the programme, over 134 residents of inaccessible communities were ferried to access healthcare services at Oporoza Pololubo, Ode Itsekiri, Awanba, Ogbudugbudu, Ogbinbiri and Sandfill healthcare facilities.

DSCHC said the activities has been phased and would go round all in deference to the “Access to Healthcare Services” initiative across the oil-rich state.

It noted: “The expected outcome is to ensure every newborn in Delta State that will benefit from the DSCHS programme receives a certified NPC berth certificate. The DSCHC registration platform ensures that all required registration field complies with NPC standards.

“The process is to update and validate registration records of all children, who have received service under the DSCHC and issue them a certified NPC birth and DSCHS service certificates.

“Second, to mandate all DSCHC field agents attached to all DSCHC accredited HCFs to ensure registration of all newborns with the DSCHC NPC compliant registration portal and issue them a certified NPC birth certificate and a DSCHS ID card under the Equity Health Plan/BHCPF programme.

“The NPC and DSCHC will have a system for data integration that ensures data safety.

“The NPC, UNICEF and DSCHC shall each nominate two people to form a six-people team that will be responsible for Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and report to their supervisors.”