BaSAM Disseminates First-Ever UHC Scorecard for Bauchi State

By Bashir Hassan Abubakar

In line with the global target of attaining Universal Health Coverage (UHC), a civil society coalition known as Bauchi State Accountability Mechanism for Maternal and Child Health (BaSAM), has developed the first ever Bauchi State UHC Scorecard.

Giving a short brief on how the UHC scorecard came about on Thursday May 18, 2023 at Command Guest House, Bauchi, Co-Chair of BaSAM, Abu John Yusuf said that though this was not the first time BaSAM was developing health scorecard in Bauchi State.

Yusuf said what makes the current one different was the harmonization of all the health components in the areas of service delivery, quality improvement and health financing into one document for ease of use.

Yusuf explained tbat BaSAM , with technical support from USAID funded Integrated Health Programme (USAID IHP) in continuation of its quest for improved health care services in Bauchi State, would use the Scorecard to advocate for policy change that could be tilted towards attaining UHC in the State and the Nation at large.

He called on the State Government to increase investment in the health sector with a view to addressing some of the gaps identified in the new UHC scorecard.

While explaining the health financing component captured in the scorecard, USAID IHP health financing specialist, Pharmacist Khalid Kasimu observed that.what the state government spends on health is inadequate as the state has an increasing population with over 70 percent of the population living below poverty line.

Kasimu further explained that the financial risk protection data indicates that less than five percent of the state population has financial risk protection, which implies that health expenditure is majorly through household out-of-pocket expenses. This, according to the health financing specialist, has the potential to push more households into poverty.

Kasimu said that it had become imperative for Bauchi State Government to ensure timely release of equity funds for the enrollment of poor and vulnerable households into the financial risk protection scheme of the state health contributory scheme.

With regards to service delivery in the healthcare sector, USAID IHP Monitoring and Evaluation specialist, Adeyemi Samsom said Bauchi State is faced with an increase in maternal and child mortality despite the general increase in service delivery data from 2021 to 2022.

He said that the quality of Antenatal Care (ANC) services still needs to improve as ANC 4, use of IPT and facility delivery is still the below acceptable limits.

The M&E specialist then suggested on the need to have a significant improvement towards achievement of the 2030 SDG target of reducing maternal death to less than 70 per 1000 live birth per year.

Samsom also gave the current status of under five children and neonatal mortality rate in the state as contained in the new UHC scorecard.

Earlier in a welcome address, Bauchi State Commissioner of Health Dr. Sabiu Abdu Gwalabe commended the efforts of BaSAM and USAID IHP for the giant stride in coming up with the first ever State UHC Scorecard, which he described as reference point for other States to follow.

Represented by Alhaji Sale Idris Giade, a permanent secretary, the commissioner said the state government would continue to improve its healthcare system through policy implementation and other programs in the health sector.

There were goodwill messages from Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, WHO, UNICEF, USAID State2State and other partners, where they all commended the effort of BaSAM and USAID IHP in developing and disseminating the scorecard.

At the end of the dissemination meeting, BaSAM asked the state government to:

• [ ] Improve the efficiency of public health spending for better outcomes, use budget resources to reduce financial barriers to health and make services affordable to everyone including the poor and vulnerable population
• [ ] That Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency should ensure regular and adequate provision of intermittent preventive treatment (IPT2)
• [ ] That the Agency should prioritize awareness creation on the use and availability of modern methods of contraceptives for women of child bearing age to increase FP uptake
• [ ] That the State Government should revisit the challenges around human resource for health with a view to bridging the gaps occasioned by inadequate manpower.

Our correspondent reports that the focus of Universal Health Coverage is aimed at ensuring people have access to the health care they need without having to go through financial hardship. UHC target is that by 2030, the initiative will eliminate preventable maternal and child deaths, strengthen resilience to public emergencies, reduce financial hardship linked to illness, and further enhance the foundation for long term economic growth.