BEPHA has the status of a Common Initiative Group (CIG) and the following are its PRINCIPLES: Risk Pooling (Insurance), Solidarity, Participation and Charity.

1. Risk-pooling (Insurance): In Insurance, risk is pooled, members pay premiums to cover the risk pooled, and when a risk materializes the member receives a specified indemnity related to the risk. BEPHA equally does this, but in the domain of health. The difference here is that, while with Insurance, the members undergo a long process to receive their benefits (some even end up not having it), with BEPHA, the benefits are received immediately. That is, 75% of a client’s (Beneficiary) health bill is borne by BEPHA.
2. Solidarity: All members contribute, but only those affected benefit from the financial support. This is already practised in some NJANGIS or other Cultural Associations, and given the name ‘Trouble Fund’. This depends so much on numbers, knowing that few persons cannot successfully run or manage a Trouble Fund.
3. Participation: Membership is voluntary. All members have the right to participate, directly or indirectly in the various decision making organs and to influence the operation of the scheme. This is another aspect which makes BEPHA different from pure Insurance. That is, the Members exercise some role in the running of BEPHA through Parish-level or Community-based Local Assemblies to the General Assembly and its various committees at Diocesan level.
4. Charity: By contributing to the good health of one another, we are actually putting into practice the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ in Mt.25:31-45 where he says: “Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, that you do unto me”; and like the Good Samaritan (cf. Lk.10:29-37) we become each other’s keeper.

THE PROBLEM
The Bishops have observed that God’s children are living in misery brought about by abject poverty, and because of this they are unable to afford quality health care.

Many who visit the health centers or hospitals when they are sick find themselves unable to pay their medical bills and are sometimes forced to work in the Health Units to make up for such bills; some resort to selling household items or borrowing – for which they are often exploited; others do not seek medical care at all; some try to treat themselves (auto-medication); others delay at home hoping for some improvement and most often report for treatment when their condition has aggravated; many others resort to traditional practitioners or road-side drugs for cheaper treatment – which is very dangerous to their health; and still others resort to prayers for the hope of a miracle. The result of the above has often been that the patient suffers for a longer period; the family ends up spending more money, energy and other resources; or the person dies rather prematurely (this is human thinking anyway).

Out of concern for this reality, the Bishops thought it wise that we could pool our resources together in order to help one another. They have noticed the solidarity already existing among us as is often the case during wake-keep when one member of our community dies, as people contribute to assist the bereaved family in the burial of their relative. Drawing from such solidarity, we could equally contribute towards the good health of one another while still alive and thereby foster Health Promotion and Health Protection in the society. “Health is wealth”, so goes a common adage. Thus, if our community is healthy, we all shall be wealthy.