From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
The Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority (KADCHMA), with support from Save the Children International (SCI), has sensitized citizens through a road walk on the benefits of registering and enrolling into the State Contributory Health insurance scheme.
Speaking to the representative of KADCHMA, Suleiman Mustapha, who is the Head of Admin and Finance, noted that sensitization activity was held to mark the World Universal Health Coverage Day in Kaduna.
According to him, it is a special day when citizens all over the World are sensitized to understand the benefits of good health and for them to access quality healthcare services.
“For us in KADCHMA, we have had a series of activities lined up for this week.
“It is the last activity that we have outlined, which is the road walk across the Metropolis, to interface with passersby, to pass information about the contributory Health scheme and convince them to register”, he stated.
He explained that the aim was to increase awareness creation by informing the citizens more about enjoying the benefits of quality healthcare through the contributory scheme.
He said: “We are here to encourage them to register, particularly the beneficiaries from the informal sector who constitute the large majority of the populace in Kaduna and are left behind to register into the scheme.
“So our motive is just to pass the message, let them know the benefits, and convince them to register and enjoy the benefits from the wide range of services offered.”
Mr. Suleiman opined that the grassroots constitute the majority of the State’s population and require Healthcare services the most, hence, the need for continuous sensitization.
“A lot is happening, just recently, we launched our zonal offices as well as the information and enrollment centers that we have established across the 255 wards in the State.
“So with this, the grassroots are continuously informed and aware of the contributory Health scheme which can be accessed with only 10,650 Naira.
“They constitute the majority and they are the ones who require this health access the most, so we will continue to push our agenda into the grassroots so that more citizens will get into the scheme.”
Speaking also, the SCI Advocacy and Communications Coordinator, Abdulrahman Mikael, said that his organization is focused on supporting the state in health system strengthening.
He added that a primary area, the function of the Sector, is helping the State and Nigeria to achieve Universal health coverage.
“Part of the Sustainable Development goal is to ensure that no one is left behind when it comes to healthcare, and the Kaduna State Government has placed health as a critical part of the human capital development as part of the sustained Agenda.
“So Save the Children International is also promoting that course to ensure that every citizen in Kaduna State also has access to affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare services,” he said.
