Stakeholders Advocate for cost-free healthcare for PWDs in Katsina

Stakeholders from different sectors in Katsina State on Wednesday advocated for the inclusion of People With Disabilities (PWDs) in the state’s free healthcare programme. The meeting which held in Dutse, capital of Jigawa, was supported by the United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF).

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This is part of recommendations of group ‘B’ presentation on policy objective two of social insurance, at a 4-day workshop on review and validation of the state’s social protection policy. The presentation was made by Ashiru Ahmed-Rufai, a Planning Officer with the state’s Ministry of Health.

“The state has Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), which covers health insurance for poor, pregnant women, children under five and elderly in the state. Therefore, we recommended the expansion of the programme to also cover PWDs in the state irrespective of their age,’’ according to the group’s representative.

The group also recommended that the government should expand health insurance to cover more pregnant women, children under five and children between 5-18 years of age.

The participants also recommended the expansion of health insurance to cover more elderly persons of 60 years and above, and expanded health insurance to cover informal workers.

According to the presentation, the measure should be transferred to the social assistance group, revive grazing reserves, re-demarcation of Cattle routes  and revive extension of service workers.

“Government should also provide improved early variety seeds, avoid construction on drainages, encourage farmers to patronise insurance, procure and store more grains. And also extend work injury benefits to commercial drivers, Okada riders, electrical workers, welders and fabricators. Government should also domesticate Micro pension schemes for the informal sector in the state,” the group suggested.

Participants also gave suggestions, debated and adopted the group’s recommendations.

NAN/Jane Aluko