The Borno State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (BOSCHMA) has enrolled 97,000 beneficiaries under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF).

The agency also disbursed over N1.2 billion to primary healthcare facilities in the last three years.

Its executive secretary, Abbah Saleh-Kaza, stated this on Monday during the 2024 performance review exercise in Maiduguri, the state capital.

He said the agency prioritised family health services, adding that expectant mothers and children constituted more than 50 per cent of the enrollees.

Mr Saleh-Kaza said the agency enrolled 22,000 pregnant women and 14,000 children into the scheme since its inception.

According to Mr Saleh-Kaza, the N1.2 billion capitation payment significantly impacts the BHCPF towards improving primary healthcare facilities for effective service delivery.

“In 2024 alone, the state government allocated N699 million for capitation to primary healthcare centres. Since the inception of the BHCPF, we have consistently paid capitation on time, even in the absence of federal government funds.

“In January and February 2024, we are able to pay the first quarter capitation despite delays in federal releases.

“In 2024, BOSCHMA disbursed over N40 million in fee-for-service payments to 172 secondary healthcare facilities, a significant increase from N20.5 million in 2023 and N600,000 in 2022,” he said.

Mr Saleh-Kaza said the gesture facilitated referrals between primary and secondary healthcare facilities, which showed a major improvement in the quality of healthcare service delivery.

“With the introduction of an electronic referral system, we have seen a significant improvement in the efficiency of our healthcare services.

“We have N300 million reserved for referrals this year, and we are committed to utilising at least 50 per cent of the funds to enhance healthcare delivery,” he said.

He said that about 15,000 of the enrollees were treated for malaria, hypertension, diabetes, dental and ophthalmology. He noted that the prevalence of mental cases prompted the partnership between the agency and the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri.

“One of the challenges we face is the increasing number of mental health cases, and we are working to establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital to ensure that our patients receive the best possible care,” he said.

On challenges, Mr Saleh-Kaza identified poverty as the major bane preventing many people from accessing quality healthcare services in the state.

While soliciting more funds, Mr Saleh-Kaza said the agency would expand the scope of its services to enhance access to quality healthcare services to the vulnerable population.

He lauded Governor Babagana Zulum for supporting the agency to enable it to provide quality healthcare services to the people.

(NAN)