The Chairman of Kudan Local Government Area (LGA) in Kaduna State, Hon. Dauda Abba, has proposed that intending couples must present proof of enrolment into the Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority (KADCHMA) before being permitted to marry.
Abba made the proposal on Monday at the Kudan LGA Secretariat during the inauguration of the informal sector enrolment campaign by KADCHMA.
According to the chairman, the initiative aims to boost uptake of the health insurance scheme while ensuring that couples, especially pregnant women, have access to quality healthcare services.
“The ₦10,650 annual premium covers a wide range of services, including antenatal care, delivery, and postnatal care — with or without complications — making it a comprehensive healthcare solution for expectant mothers,” Abba said.
He emphasised the importance of financial protection against unexpected medical expenses and noted that requiring the KADCHMA card would encourage more people to take advantage of the scheme’s offerings.
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To enforce the proposal, Abba revealed plans to issue an Executive Order to the legislative council of the LGA, urging them to pass a by-law mandating KADCHMA enrolment as a prerequisite for marriage and political office.
“We hope to finalise the by-law within the next two to three weeks and share it with relevant stakeholders. It will mandate KADCHMA enrolment for marriage registration and for individuals contesting political positions,” he stated.
The chairman also pledged to personally sponsor the enrolment of 1,000 individuals, with plans to expand to another 1,000 beneficiaries after the first phase is completed.
He called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, ward development committees, and other stakeholders to sensitise their communities and support the implementation of the scheme at the grassroots level.
Earlier in the event, KADCHMA’s Director-General, Abubakar Hassan, explained that the campaign seeks to promote access to quality, affordable healthcare without financial hardship — in line with the vision of achieving Universal Health Coverage in Kaduna State.
He described the initiative as part of Governor Uba Sani’s Rural Transformation Agenda, which aims to serve underserved and remote populations by reducing maternal and child mortality through health insurance access.
“More than 50 women have already given birth via Caesarean section under the scheme, without the burden of out-of-pocket payments,” Hassan noted.
He appealed to stakeholders to become enrolment ambassadors, supporting the campaign through community mobilisation and development planning.
In his remarks, the District Head of Kudan, Halliru Mahmood, commended Governor Sani for initiating the programme.
He described the ₦10,650 registration fee as a modest investment considering the significant healthcare benefits it offers.
Mahmood expressed optimism that the programme would substantially reduce maternal and child mortality and provide critical financial relief to families, especially the most vulnerable.
The campaign, which also targets Chikun and Kagarko LGAs, is supported by a coalition of development partners, including EngenderHealth Consortium, the International Society for Media in Public Health (ISMPH), the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI), and the Legislative Advocacy Initiative for Sustainable Development Goals (LISDEL).
Community volunteers, traditional leaders, ward committees, and religious stakeholders were all in attendance at the launch.
NAN