Date: 2016-09-26

The Kwara Government on Monday inaugurated a joint health monitoring team to oversee the activities of the Community Health Insurance Scheme (CHIS) in its efforts to improve the state's health service delivery system.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Sulaiman Alege, who inaugurated the committee in Ilorin, said government wanted the committee to interface between it and health insurance providers on behalf of patients to ensure that the latter enjoyed quality service delivery.

He said that the committee, among others, would monitor and review activities as they relate to the operations and service delivery of health providers participating in the CHIS in the state.

This, he said, would provide the committee with an insight on challenges being experienced, as well as assist it to proffer best possible suggestions on how to mitigate them.

He added that "the committee will act as representative of the ministry in enrollment meetings with a view to knowing the progress of the scheme."

He, therefore, urged members to justify the confidence reposed in them. Alhaji Abdulsalam Yussuf, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, noted that part of the committee's responsibilities "is to report poor service delivery, gaps in quality and facilities at health institutions to the appropriate authorities for necessary intervention.

"You need to always visit the providers to ensure services being rendered by them meet expected quality standards.

"Your terms of reference also include planning, prioritising and offering technical assistance to community health insurance scheme when required." Dr Stephen Arigidi, the Deputy Director, Medical Services and Training, who is the Chairman of the committee, pledged members' commitment to service.