By Femi Mustapha in Kaduna
Out-of-pocket spending for healthcare has ended for 866 learners of the Kaduna State Special Education School following their enrollment into the Kaduna State Contributory Health Scheme by the Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority, KADCHMA.
The school, a secondary school for blind and hearing-impaired children, is the only special school owned by the Kaduna State Government and has learners drawn from all 23 local governments of the state.
Speaking during the enrollment exercise at the school, the Director-General of KADCHMA, Malam Abubakar Hassan, said the intervention was in line with the cardinal principle of Governor Uba Sani’s administration that health in Kaduna is a right and not a privilege.
“We are here at the school for the special children in Kaduna State because it is a cardinal principle of government to see agencies collaborate towards meeting the objectives of the state,” Hassan said.
He noted that the exercise, carried out in collaboration with the school and the Kaduna State Senior Secondary School Education Board, is to ensure that children with special needs are not left behind in the drive for universal health coverage.
According to him, information from the school shows that emergencies that cannot be handled at the school dispensary often require out-of-pocket spending at primary or secondary facilities. This burden will now be removed.
“Today, all of that is going to be a thing of the past, courtesy of the government of Kaduna State. Out-of-pocket costs will no longer be an issue. The parents and the students are going to ensure that the students are here learning and succeeding,” he said.
On who bears the cost, Hassan explained that once enrolled, the children will no longer pay one naira when they are ill, whether at primary, secondary or tertiary level of care.
He said Zakari Isa Primary Healthcare Center, closest to the school, will serve as their first point of call, with referrals to Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital, which has been revitalized by Governor Uba Sani, and, where necessary, to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital.
“That cost is going to be borne by KADCHMA through the pooling system that already exists for the procurement of essential services. Once there is a new intake, the new intake will also be enrolled,” Hassan assured.
Also speaking, the convener of Mowiz and Friends’ annual charity event, Mohammed Yusuf Suleiman, popularly known as Mowiz, said KADCHMA has partnered with his initiative for four years and has decided to take the partnership further this year.
Suleiman said he suggested the Kaduna State Special School as the beneficiary to enhance further Governor Uba Sani’s quest to ensure no child is left behind in health, and assured that his team will be on the ground for enrollment to ensure smooth implementation.
“I am so sure that this will not be a white elephant project. This will be a project that will put our children with special needs in the spotlight and in the best medical care so that they can focus on their education,” he said.
On his part, the Principal of the Kaduna State Special Education School, Musa Saidu, said he felt highly honored and delighted to receive the visitors, noting that no child attends lessons fully when complaining of ill health.
Saidu said that, with the initiative, a conducive atmosphere for learning has now been established, as the school will concentrate on teaching and learning, and on knowing where to go when a child is sick, free of charge.
He described the school’s uniqueness and the financial implication of seeking care without money for a card, which has now been removed, and thanked Governor Uba Sani and the DG of KADCHMA for the gesture.
He disclosed that the school currently has 866 learners in its database for the 2026/2027 academic session, with admissions still in progress, meaning the figure may fluctuate.