The chairman of Kudan LGA of Kaduna, Dauda Abba, has proposed a requirement for would-be couples to present the Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority enrollment card before getting married.

Ensuring this, he said, would increase enrolment in the scheme.

Mr Abba made the proposal on Monday at the Kudan LGA Secretariat during the KADCHMA’s inauguration of the informal sector enrollment campaign into the scheme.

The chairman stated that the proposal aimed to ensure couples have access to quality healthcare services.

The exercise, which would also be inaugurated at Kagarko and Chikun LGAs, was expected to be carried out across all 23 LGAs. It was supported by the EngerderHealth Consortium, the International Society for Media in Public Health, the Centre for Communication and Social Impact, and the Legislative Advocacy Initiative for Sustainable Development Goals.

Mr Abba stated that pregnant women would particularly benefit from the scheme’s coverage of antenatal care, delivery, and postnatal care.

The chairman also noted that the health scheme offers financial protection against unexpected medical expenses, allowing pregnant women to access quality healthcare without financial hardship.

He added that the scheme also provides access to quality healthcare services, including antenatal care, delivery, and postnatal care, regardless of complications, thereby reducing maternal mortality rates.

Abba said, “The N10,650 annual charge fee covers numerous diseases and services, including antenatal care and delivery, making it a comprehensive healthcare solution for pregnant women.”

By making KADCHMA enrollment a requirement for marriage, the chairman believed that awareness and uptake of the scheme would increase, ultimately improving the health and well-being of citizens.

He, therefore, said that he would push an Executive Order to the LGA legislative arm for inputs to make by-laws that would require intending couples to present KADCHMA enrollment cards before the wedding.

Mr Abba added that the by-law would ensure that KADCHMA enrollment cards were
required for political office aspirants in the LGA in order to support the scheme’s implementation.

“The by-law will require individuals to have a KADCHMA card before getting married, and individuals before contesting political positions. We are optimistic that the by-law will be ready within two to three weeks, and forward a copy to relevant stakeholders,”he said.

The chairman pledged to enroll 1,000 people in the scheme, with plans to add another 1,000 after the initial enrollment was successful.

He, therefore, urged traditional, religious leaders and all other stakeholders to circulate information about the scheme to households and support its implementation.

Earlier, the director-general of KADCHMA, Abubakar Hassan, emphasised that the scheme’s goal was to ensure that all the residents have access to quality and affordable health services without financial hardship.

Mr Hassan explained that the authority rolled out the campaign to educate grassroots communities on the benefits of enrolling in the health scheme, targeting local stakeholders and traditional leaders to champion the initiative.

He also explained that the meeting aimed to secure the endorsement of local government authorities, identify context-specific barriers, and foster ownership and shared responsibility for improving community health outcomes.

The director-general lamented the high rate of maternal mortality, saying that the N10,650 annual charge fee covers numerous diseases, including services such as antenatal till birth, with or without complications.

He said that over 50 women enrolled in the scheme had given birth through cesarean section.

(NAN)