From: Femi Mustapha in Kaduna
The Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority, KADCHMA, in partnership with EngenderHealth, has started a two-day strategic session to develop a grassroots health insurance awareness campaign across the 11 Local Government Areas within the Zazzau Emirate.
The session aims to finalize a mobilization plan that leverages traditional institutions to increase enrollment, with a particular focus on the informal sector.
Declaring the meeting open, KADCHMA Director-General, Mallam Hassan Abubakar, described the initiative as a significant step toward achieving Universal Health Coverage in Kaduna State.
“To the best of our knowledge, this is the first initiative of its kind in Nigeria where a State Health Insurance Agency is developing a coordinated grassroots health insurance mobilization campaign anchored on the traditional institution across an entire Emirate,” Abubakar said.
“We therefore have an opportunity to develop a model that can be documented, evaluated and potentially replicated across Kaduna State and beyond.”
He emphasized that involving traditional rulers was a deliberate choice, given their credibility and reach within communities.
“Our traditional leaders remain among the most respected and influential voices within our communities. They understand their people, command trust at the grassroots and have structures that span from the Emirate Council through districts, villages, and communities,” he stated.
Abubakar pointed out that reaching people in the informal sector remains one of the biggest challenges to sustainable health insurance coverage. He mentioned farmers, traders, artisans, transporters, and small business owners as groups still vulnerable to catastrophic out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.
“Reaching these populations requires more than conventional publicity; it requires trusted community voices that can explain the benefits of health insurance, address misconceptions, build confidence, and encourage families to enroll and renew their coverage,” he explained.
The KADCHMA DG urged participants to use the two to develop a practical and actionable campaign. He said the plan must clearly outline the roles of the Emirate Council, District Heads, Village Heads, community leaders, KADCHMA, and Local Government structures.
He added that the strategy should include clear messaging, measurable enrollment targets, defined responsibilities, and a mechanism to track progress across all 11 LGAs.
Abubakar also thanked EngenderHealth for its technical and financial support and expressed gratitude to His Royal Highness, the Emir of Zazzau, and the entire Zazzau Emirate Council for their support of the initiative.
“Our ultimate objective is clear: to ensure that more families are protected from financial hardship arising from healthcare costs and that no resident is denied access to needed healthcare simply because they cannot afford to pay at the point of service,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the deliberations would turn traditional leadership and community trust into increased health insurance enrollment and better health outcomes for residents of the Zazzau Emirate.