LGA Chairman to enroll 500 vulnerable persons in Kaduna Healthcare Scheme

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Chairman of Kagarko Local Government Area, Muhuyideen Abdullahi-Umar, has announced that plans to enroll 500 vulnerable individuals in the state’s healthcare scheme.
This move was disclosed during a sensitization meeting focused on enrollment for the informal sector, which took place at the local government headquarters in Kagarko.
Abdullahi-Umar stated that this initiative aims to complement the state government’s efforts to revamp the Primary Health Centers across the region.
“As you are aware, the state has seen a significant upgrade of its primary health centers, and we are here to support this effort by enrolling the most vulnerable people in our communities.
“We want to ensure that they feel the government’s impact because healthcare can be costly,” he explained.
He further disclosed that the local government will enroll 200 individuals, with him enrolling 100 and the Vice Chairman enrolling 200.
“This pledge takes immediate effect and will be led by the Vice Chairman,” he said.
Looking ahead, Abdullahi-Umar expressed desire to register 3,000 people next year with a budget allocation of 30 million Naira.
“As you’re aware, we came into office with an existing budget, and as we operate within the law, we intend to allocate 30 million naira next year to enable us to enroll 3,000 individuals in the local government area.
“This initiative is designed to provide access to free healthcare services for vulnerable groups”, he added.
Abdullahi-Umar emphasized that it is part of a broader effort to protect these populations from healthcare-related poverty and financial strain.
“These initiatives aim to improve healthcare access and reduce financial burdens on vulnerable individuals.
“The commitment of local government chairmen to these programs is seen as a positive step towards achieving universal healthcare coverage,” he noted.
He urged potential beneficiaries to take advantage of this opportunity by enrolling in the health scheme.
He said: “If we invest in this program, it is crucial that people access the services available. We encourage everyone to come and get enrolled.”
Additionally, he called on community members to follow suit by enrolling more vulnerable individuals in the scheme to promote universal health coverage.
Earlier, the Director General of the Health Authority, Abubakar Hassan, expressed gratitude to the Chairman and his council for their efforts.
He remarked that health insurance serves as a bridge from vulnerability to security, from exclusion to inclusion, and from despair to dignity.
Hassan further explained that the Contributory Health Management Authority is responsible for managing the state’s health insurance scheme and aims to ensure all residents have access to affordable and quality healthcare services.
He urged the Chairman to ensure that couples register for the scheme before getting married, as this would help them save on healthcare costs.
The Director General also commended religious and traditional leaders for their contributions and dedication to mobilizing residents.