In a significant move to improve health outcomes and reduce maternal and infant mortality, the Kaduna State Government, in partnership with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), is developing a comprehensive strategy to expand health insurance coverage for citizens in the informal sector.
The announcement came during a three-day dissemination meeting held in Zaria, themed: “Expanding Health Insurance to Improve Sexual and Reproductive Health Outcomes.”
Mr Funsho Lewu, CHAI’s Kaduna State Coordinator, highlighted the urgency of the initiative, citing persistently poor maternal, neonatal, and infant health indicators, despite sustained investments in the health sector.
“This partnership aims to accelerate the enrolment of informal sector citizens into the Kaduna Contributory Health Management Agency (KADCHMA) scheme. By doing so, we can significantly curb maternal and infant mortality,” he stated.
The informal sector, which constitutes a majority of Kaduna’s workforce, has remained largely uninsured, posing a critical challenge to universal health coverage efforts.
Tackling Systemic Barriers
Hajiya Umma Ahmed, Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, reiterated the importance of robust maternal and child health systems, which she said are a key benchmark for assessing national healthcare performance.
Represented by Mr Joseph Sunday, Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Ministry of Health, the Commissioner lamented that many maternal and infant deaths were avoidable, attributing high mortality rates to poor access and financial constraints.
“The inability to pay for healthcare at the point of need keeps many away from hospitals. One of the core aims of KADCHMA is to reduce out-of-pocket expenses, which are a major barrier to accessing healthcare,” she said.
“Healthcare should not be a luxury. Unfortunately, the economic reality today suggests many Nigerians are either rich or poor—there is no middle class anymore,” she added.
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Scaling Up Insurance Uptake
In his contribution, Malam Abubakar Hassan, Director-General of KADCHMA, acknowledged that uptake among the informal sector has remained disappointingly low since the scheme’s launch six years ago.
“We’ve faced challenges ranging from lack of awareness to communication gaps and trust issues. This meeting is essential for rallying community stakeholders to help us change that narrative,” Hassan said.
He affirmed that community influencers and local leaders present at the event would be crucial to bridging the information divide and driving grassroots enrolment.
As the meeting concluded, participants expressed optimism that the partnership with CHAI would usher in a new era of health equity for the underserved, particularly women and children in low-income households.