By Femi Mustapha
It was an occasion of Beauty and Blissful as Kaduna state marks the first International Universal Health Coverage day.
The 2021 day organized by Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority (KADCHMA)and supported by Save the Children International,(SCI) saw the Big wigs from the Health Sectors, HMOs, Government officials and Civil Society Organizations brainstorming on the journey so far in the Contributory Health Insurance Scheme of the state and pave way forward.
Welcoming the guest to the occasion, the Director General of Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority (KADCHMA), Mallam Abubakar Hassan said the day is set aside to push for the Global desire for every citizens to have access to quality health care services without any Financial handicap.
The DG who was represented by Director of Operations, Dr. Juliana Dauda Bungwon said in line with global practices, 383,513 persons had been enrolled under the formal sector; 4,523 under the informal sector, while 79,239 vulnerable populations accessed free healthcare services under the scheme.
He added that 8,292 were captured under the Tertiary Students Health Insurance Programme and 45,529 under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
According to him, all the enrollees are accessing the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services as defined by the National Health Insurance Scheme
In her remarks, Kaduna state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Mohammed Baloni disclosed that the state government has earmarked One percent of its Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) to cater for the treatment of the vulnerable population, children under 5 years of age, pregnant woman, aged and people living with disabilities.
Dr. Baloni who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Alhaji Adamu Mansur said the government actions are in line with the 2021 Theme: “Leaving No One’s Health Behind: Investing in health systems for all”.
She added that the El- Rufai Administration has also revitalized the Primary HealthCare Board by renovating, equipping, and Staffing the 255 Primary Health Facilities in the 23 Local Government Areas of the State.
These facilities according to her are been accredited to provide Primary Healthcare Services to beneficiaries of the Kaduna State Contributory Health Scheme and the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund Programme.
Similarly, the Advocacy and Campaign Coordinator of Save the Children International, Kaduna Office Farouk Abdulkadir mayana said world Bank report
from June, 2020 to January, 2021 stated that there are between 119 to 124 million additional people into poverty in the world
“This is the first time in 20yrs largely due to COVID and imagine if this study is done now, the numbers could have doubled.
Poverty leads to poor health and poor health leads to poverty, it’s a vicious cycle and a bottleneck to achieving UHC.”
“Financial barriers are not the only barriers to access quality health services, equity is also a barrier. Women l, PWD etc faces Barriers beyond financial hardship” he said.
He assured the gathering that SCI will continue to partner with KADCHMA to ensure Kaduna residents get the Health coverage they needed.
