In a major push to expand healthcare access, over 32,000 of Kaduna State’s most vulnerable residents are set to receive one year of free healthcare coverage.
The initiative, funded by the Gates Foundation, will enroll beneficiaries into the Kaduna State Contributory Health Scheme, KADCHS.
The announcement was made the Director General of the Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority, KADCHMA, Abubakar Hassan, during a planning meeting of the state’s Health Financing Technical Working Group.
Hassan praised the Gates Foundation for its sustained partnership, highlighting that the intervention would play a crucial role in reducing maternal and child mortality rates across the state.
He, however reinterates KADCHMA’s openness to further collaborate with organisations and individuals dedicated to improving healthcare delivery.
“We urge other partners to emulate the commitment demonstrated by the Gates Foundation,” Hassan stated.
A Consultant with the Gates Foundation, Dr Anthony Shamang reaffirmed the organisation’s long-term dedication to enhancing healthcare for vulnerable groups in Nigeria.
According to him, “We have been working for over a decade to improve access, and we remain committed to partnering with the Kaduna State Government for the successful implementation of this programme.”
Beneficiaries will be selected from all 23 Local Government Areas, with allocation based on local population size and poverty index data from the Kaduna State Bureau of Statistics.
The enrollment will prioritise women and children, with 60% of slots reserved for pregnant women and 40% for children under five years old.
The initiative marks a significant step in the state’s efforts to achieve universal health coverage and provide a safety net for its most Vulnerable populations.
The Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority is the agency responsible for implementing the State Contributory Health Scheme, aimed at providing accessible and affordable healthcare to all residents.