By Femi Mustapha in Kaduna
The Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority (KADCHMA) has launched an enrollment office at Manaal Specialist Hospital in Kawo to sensitize the informal sector and raise awareness of the benefits of enrolling in the state health insurance scheme.
The Director General of KADCHMA, Mallam Abubakar Hassan, who was represented by the Head of Planning, Research and Statistics, Pharm. Sa’idu Bala, said the initiative was aimed at bringing healthcare closer to the people.
According to him, the one-day sensitization program and official launch of the KADCHMA enrollment office at the hospital were organized in collaboration with Manar Specialist Hospital to ease access for residents.
“We aim at bringing the far to near. What do we mean? We brought what has never happened, and we have now made it happen. We want to lessen the stress people face going to the Ministry of Health to register for KADCHMA,” Pharm. Bala said.
He explained that the area office would serve as a branch of the Kaduna State Contributory Health Scheme, in collaboration with Manar Specialist Hospital, to raise awareness and encourage people in the informal sector to register for one year of health insurance for just N10,650.
Pharm. Bala said the sensitization had been impressive, with more than 10 people from the informal sector paying and enrolling immediately after the program.
He disclosed that a philanthropist from the Kawo community had also sponsored 50 vulnerable people, providing them with free medical services for one year.
According to him, society is categorized into four groups: the formal sector—those working for the government; the informal sector—those running their own businesses; and the vulnerable population, who have no means to support themselves. He said the 50 beneficiaries sponsored by the philanthropist belong to the vulnerable category.
He called on residents to participate in the scheme, stressing that health insurance remains the only means of attaining universal health coverage.
“Health insurance is the only means for attainment of universal health coverage. If you look at the expenses people incur to access care, they are quite high. It’s not something all can afford. A lot of people have to forgo some essential needs of their lives to pay for their health,” he said.
“But if they are covered, they pay just a small token of N10,650; they will have access to free, affordable, and quality healthcare services for a period of one year. We are always encouraging people to key into the scheme so that they will have a subsidized payment with the support of the government effort,” he added.
Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer of Manaal Specialist Hospital, Dr. Ishaq Umar Mohammed, said the launch of the area office was intended to bring what was previously far to near and reduce the stress of going to the Ministry of Health to register.
He said the office would serve as a KADCHMA branch, in collaboration with the hospital, to improve access and encourage enrollment, particularly among people in the informal sector.
