From: Femi Mustapha in Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government has brought healthcare financing closer to traders and residents with the opening of the first Local Government office of the Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority, KADCHMA, at Old Panteka Market in Kaduna South Local Government Area.
The office, inaugurated on Tuesday in Tudun Wada, is the first KADCHMA office to be established in any of the 23 local government areas in the state.
Speaking at the event, the Director General of KADCHMA, Mallam Abubakar Hassan, said the initiative is in fulfillment of Governor Senator Uba Sani, CON’s pledge to bring governance and quality healthcare closer to the people.
“This event marks another important milestone in our efforts to provide quality, affordable, and sustainable healthcare to the people of Kaduna State through the Kaduna State Contributory Health Scheme,” Mallam Hassan said.
“Through this office, the public can easily enroll in the scheme, renew their membership, update their records, make inquiries, resolve complaints, and get guidance on accessing healthcare services.”
He described the Contributory Health Scheme as “more than a method of financing healthcare” and “a crucial social protection mechanism that shields families from catastrophic health costs while ensuring timely access to quality care.”
Mallam Hassan commended Governor Uba Sani for his “unwavering commitment to strengthening the health sector,” citing road construction in Panteka, the upgrade of primary healthcare centers to secondary status, and ongoing renovations across health facilities in the state.
“He made a promise, and today it has been fulfilled,” he said. “A sick person no longer has to stay at home because they cannot reach the hospital.”
He urged market associations, trade unions, cooperatives, and community groups to take advantage of the office, adding that staff deployed there have been directed to serve with “professionalism, integrity, courtesy, and dedication.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of Kaduna South Local Government Council, Hon. Rayyan Hussain, said Kaduna South was selected as the pilot area due to its strong performance in healthcare delivery.
He disclosed that 2,000 residents have already been enrolled into the scheme, including vulnerable groups, pregnant women, children, the elderly, and people living with disabilities.
“We faced many challenges because most of our people don’t understand the value of this program. We had to go and plead, explain, and persuade them to participate,” Hon. Rayyan said. “Last month, I told him we would add another 2,000 people.”
The Council Chairman explained that for just ₦10,600 per year, enrollees can access treatment for malaria and other illnesses that would ordinarily cost over ₦10,000 per hospital visit.
He also announced the enrollment of 42 cemetery workers and their families into the scheme, and revealed that their monthly stipend had been increased from ₦20,000 to ₦50,000.
Hon. Rayyan further outlined other health interventions in Kaduna South, including the monthly distribution of 100 birthing kits, a 70% discount on medications at Primary Health Centers, and the distribution of nearly 300 cartons of nutritional supplements each month to combat malnutrition.
He added that Ward Development Committees now have respected community members overseeing PHCs to ensure sustainability.
On education, he said the council has produced and distributed between 60 and 100 desks monthly across 37 primary schools, rebalanced teacher distribution, and set up committees to assess teacher competency.
“Everything we are doing is to ease the burden on His Excellency, the Governor,” he said. “Governance doesn’t mean the Governor himself will come down to every ward to do things for us. We must do what needs to be done.”
In their remarks, the Chairman of Panteka, Alhaji Nasiru Adamu, and Alhaji Yusuf Nagarta appreciated the state government for siting the office in the market. He pledged to mobilize over 100 members for enrollment.
Also present were the Chairman of the Ward Development Committee, Alhaji Balarabe Jaji, Sarki Balle, representing the District Head of Tudun Wada; and prominent businessman Alhaji Iliya Nagarta, who was commended for his support for peace and development in the market.
In conclusion, the KADCHMA DG and Hon. Rayyan called on residents of Kaduna South and neighboring communities to enroll themselves and their families to access affordable healthcare and reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
With the commissioning of the Panteka office, KADCHMA said it is targeting increased enrollment and a wider reach of universal health coverage for traders, artisans, and business owners across Kaduna State.