Healthcare: Kaduna govt expands  access for vulnerable persons

From Femi Oyelola,  Kaduna

The Governor Uba Sani has made significant strides in expanding access to quality healthcare by enrolling over 15,000 vulnerable individuals into the Kaduna State Health Insurance Scheme.

During the distribution of ID cards to pregnant women and children under five yesterday, the Governor emphasized that his administration believes in the principle that “no citizen should be left behind, no community should be overlooked, and no life should be lost simply because they cannot afford necessary care.”

Represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, the Governor reiterated that his mission since taking office has been to “bring healthcare closer, make healthcare cheaper, and ensure healthcare is better.”

He stated, “We have revitalized Primary Health Centers and General Hospitals; we have equipped them, staffed them, and powered them, because healthy people make a stronger Kaduna, a stronger Kaduna makes a stronger Nigeria, and a stronger Nigeria benefits us all.”

He highlighted that the administration’s investments in the health sector are resulting in safer deliveries for women, healthier growth for children, and families who can live without the fear of medical bills pushing them into poverty.

This progress, according to him, has been made possible through partnerships among the government, development partners, and communities working collaboratively.

The Governor expressed gratitude to donor agencies and development partners, including UNICEF and the Gates Foundation, while giving special commendation to the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) for directly enrolling over 20,000 vulnerable persons, primarily women, into the scheme as a testament to the power of collaboration.

The Governor also acknowledged traditional rulers for mobilizing people for health initiatives and recognized philanthropic individuals and organizations that are “planting seeds of service whose harvest will be measured in healthier generations.”

Despite these advancements, the journey to achieving total healthcare coverage is far from complete, as more than 70% of healthcare spending in Nigeria is still out-of-pocket, imposing a heavy financial burden on the poor. Governor Uba Sani argued that “health insurance is the bridge from vulnerability to security, from exclusion to inclusion, and from despair to dignity.”