The Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) has unveiled a five-year strategic health plan covering the period from 2024 to 2029. The plan was formulated during a two-day workshop held in Awka, which brought together key stakeholders including representatives from the National Health Insurance Agency, Anambra State Ministry of Agriculture, State Bureau of Statistics, and the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike.
During the workshop, ASHIA’s Managing Director, Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi, provided an overview of the strategic plan, emphasizing its focus on expanding the agency’s coverage and enrolling more individuals into the scheme. He outlined the practical steps necessary to achieve these goals and highlighted the importance of staff involvement in the planning process. Dr. Onyemaechi expressed confidence that the institutional knowledge gained by staff members during this planning phase would ensure continuity even after his tenure.
Dr. Onyemaechi described the plan as timely and detailed, outlining month-to-month and year-to-year actions, as well as strategies for resource mobilization. He emphasized that the document will serve as a critical roadmap for ASHIA’s future activities.
Dr. Erick Obikeze, a lead consultant from the University of Nigeria, reinforced the importance of having a strategic plan for achieving long-term objectives. He commended ASHIA’s initiative, stating that the plan provides a clear vision for the agency’s goals over the next five years. Dr. Obikeze also called on the Anambra State Government to gazette the document, thereby giving it the force of law and ensuring its implementation.
The two-day event was officially opened by Dr. Afam Obidike, the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, who underscored the significance of the strategic plan for the state’s health sector.
