From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna.
The Kaduna StateContributory Health Management Authority (KADCHMA) says it is providingfree basic healthcare services to 124,858 poor and vulnerable people in the state.
The Director-General of the Agency, Mr Abubabkar Hassan, made this known during a two day media roundtable funded by Save the Children Nigeria held yesterday in Zaria area of the state.
The DG disclosed that 79,329 were accessing the basic minimum package of health services as defined by the National Health Insurance Scheme, while 45,529 were enrolled under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund
(BHCPF) He explained that for those enrolled under the BHCPF, the state government provides 25 percent counterpart fund, while NHIS provides 75 per cent from the BHCPF based on the definedbenefit package. Hassan added that the Authority had so far enrolled a total of 514, 265 in the state health insurance scheme.
He noted that 382,593 were enrolled under the formal sector, 3,713 under the informal sector, 986 under the Tertiary Students Health Insurance Programme and 2,115 under the pensioner’s scheme. He explained that the aim of KADCHMA is to build an operational strategy to ensure that none is left behind health care in Kaduna State.
The DG further noted that one of the KADCHMA’s responsibilities is to meet up with the Universal healthcare coverage for all people in Kaduna state.
According to him, the goal is to achieve Universal Health Coverage, improve the poor health indices in the state and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure for health services.
Also speaking, the Advocacy and Campaigns Assistant of Save the Children Nigeria Kaduna, Olukotun Amabel said the targets is to protect the rights of the children particularly Health and Education. Similarly, representative of Nigeria Union of Journalists Kaduna State Council, the Treasurer Comrade Nicholas Dekera said the union would continue to partner KADCHMA to ensure reduction in maternal maternal in the state.
According to him, people in the rural areas need to be aware of the services of KADCHMA through the media in order for them to benefit from the scheme. Not left out, State Chairman State Media Working Group SCI , Mr. Philip Yatai announced that the group has journalists from broadcast, print and the online journalists as members.
He emphasized the need for a strong partnership between KADCHMA and the media, particularly on sensitization and awareness in the development of the sector.
