Pulse.ng : KADCHMA seeks partnership with traditional, religious leaders on enrolling Kaduna residents into health insurance scheme

By Stella Kabruk

The Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority ( KADCHMA) on Wednesday said it would partner traditional and religious leaders to promote the health insurance scheme in the state.

The Director General of the scheme, Abubakar Hassan disclosed this during a one day meeting with traditional and religious leaders on health financing and leadership in Kaduna.

Hassan said the meeting was held to deliberate on the vision of health financing in kaduna and to pave way forward in achieving universal health coverage.

He added that the meeting was also to brain storm and bring up strategies to improve awareness creation and converage of the informal sector in the state Contributory Health Insurance Scheme.

He said as critical stakeholders, the health agency considered the traditional and religious leaders commitment and support as essential.

According to him, Kaduna State Government recognises the importance of healthcare delivery in building its human capital and has taken steps to ensure that every citizen has access to affordable and high-quality healthcare services.

The Director General also said that the authority oversees a health insurance scheme that provides financial risk protection to the residents of the state and it was designed to protect citizens from huge medical bills by avoiding high cost of out-of-pocket expenses and ensuring equitable distribution of healthcare costs across different income groups.

“We are gathered here, not to only remind ourselves of our mission but also to engage in a meaningful dialogue with our valued stakeholders, if we are to succeed in our task of promoting universal health coverage in the state.

“In this regard, the position of religious and traditional leaders cannot be overstated. Equally important is the collaborative effort of relevant government agencies, healthcare providers, community leaders, civil society organizations, and, most importantly, the beneficiaries themselves.

“Today, our advocacy focuses on our religious leaders and traditional rulers. We believe that they are in good positions to deepen understanding of the activities of KADCHMA and the health insurance scheme being run by the state government.

“We are particularly concerned that the informal sector has not embraced the scheme with all the benefits that are accrued to enrollees,” he said

Speaking further, Hassan said presently, just about one per cent of those who have enrolled in the insurance scheme are from the informal sector, where the formal sector supplied bulk of the enrollees.

“This should not be the case. The market woman, the plumbers, masons, mechanics, farmers and carpenter, to mention a few informal sector business persons, can also be enrolled in to the scheme.

“The idea is to plan for the future as it can help you get the medical care you need for a token that you would have earlier deposited and suplemented by government without having to worry about the high costs of healthcare services as at the time of your need,”he noted.

He therefore called on religious leaders to educate their followers during sermons in Churches and Mosques on the benefits they stand to gain if enrolled into the scheme.

Similarly, Hassan said the traditional rulers are also respected in their domains and could also use their age-long channels of communication to inform their subjects of how the scheme works.

He implored them to work together with the health authority to make quality healthcare accessible to all in Kaduna State.

“As we move forward, we will need your support, your ideas, and your constructive criticism. We invite you to be active participants in the development and growth of the Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority. Together, we can achieve our vision of a healthier, more prosperous, and equitable Kaduna State”.

Responding, one of the traditional leaders, Alhaji Umar Lere, the Emir of Lere, commended the health authority for working hard.

He assured them of the traditional and religious leaders commitment in ensuring their best for resident to enroll and enjoy the benefit.

He said when residents enroll into the scheme, it would reduce child mortality rate in the state.(NAN)