The Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC) recently hosted a training session for its State Quality Monitors (SQMs), in a strategic move to enhance accountability and improve healthcare service delivery.
According to Dr. Isaac Akpoveta, the Director General cum Chief Executive Officer (DG/CEO), the training was organized not only to refresh the monitors on their core responsibilities but also to directly address complaints and irregularities observed in recent months.
Explaining the structure of the engagement, Dr. Akpoveta noted that most monitors were initially recruited by super agents and operated on a commission-based model.
“They earned per enrollee registered, especially within the informal sector,” he explained.
“Their core responsibilities included the registration of new enrollees, ensuring patients receive proper care, and monitoring service delivery in healthcare facilities.”
As part of their evolving role, the monitors also verify that prescribed medications are dispensed correctly.
“They now capture and transmit images of doctors’ prescriptions and the actual medications dispensed.
“This helps confirm both their presence at the facility and adherence to treatment protocols,” he added.
Recognizing the limitations of a purely commission-based model, the Commission introduced a monthly stipend to support monitors who might not earn enough through enrolment activities alone.
Initially set at ₦50,000, the stipend was later increased to ₦70,000 in line with adjustments to the national minimum wage. However, challenges soon emerged.
“We discovered that after we began paying stipends, some monitors stopped reporting to work altogether. Despite receiving monthly payments, field reports and monitoring updates ceased,” Dr. Akpoveta revealed.
To address these lapses, the Commission instituted stricter monitoring procedures and began verifying presence through timestamped reports and photographic evidence.
Some monitors, he said, had even transferred their responsibilities to third parties while continuing to collect stipends, an abuse the Commission is now firmly addressing.
“We’ve now mandated that all monitors submit their personal information during this training to eliminate proxy operations and reinforce individual accountability,” Dr. Akpoveta stated.
He clarified that only the stipends of monitors who failed to fulfill their responsibilities or submit reports were withheld.
“Some even attempted to stir protests against the Commission. But our focus remains on service delivery and integrity,” he affirmed.
Despite these setbacks, Dr. Akpoveta emphasized the Commission’s success in enrolling over 2.6 million Deltans into the state’s health insurance scheme, a major milestone toward achieving universal health coverage.
Speaking to newsmen after the training, he highlighted the vital role SQMs play in overseeing operations across the 540 healthcare facilities under the scheme.
“They are our eyes and ears in the field, ensuring patients receive the correct medications, the right care, and that standards are upheld,” he said.
The training also included sessions on verifying patient residency through official ID cards or utility bills, a measure aimed at preventing non-residents from exploiting Delta State’s free maternal and child health services, “Deltans deserve quality healthcare,” Dr. Akpoveta declared.
He urged all field monitors to remain professional, committed, and diligent in their roles while encouraging residents to embrace the state’s health insurance scheme for better access to healthcare.
