The Kaduna State Government has enrolled over 15,000 vulnerable persons into the state’s Health Insurance Scheme as part of efforts to improve access to quality and affordable healthcare.

The state governor, Uba Sani, made this known on Friday during the distribution of health insurance identity cards to pregnant women and children under five years in Kaduna.

Mr Sani, represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, said the initiative was aimed at reducing financial barriers to healthcare and promoting inclusiveness in the health sector.

He said the enrollment aligned with the state government’s commitment to ensuring that no citizen was denied healthcare due to lack of financial capacity.

Mr Sani said, “Since assumption of office, our priority has been to bring healthcare closer to the people, make it cheaper, and ensure better quality.’’

The governor stated that investments in the sector led to the revitalisation of Primary Health Centres and General Hospitals across the state.

According to him, the facilities had been equipped, staffed, and powered to deliver quality services.

The governor attributed the progress to collaboration among the state government, development partners, and local communities.

Mr Sani commended donor agencies including UNICEF and the Gates Foundation, while giving special recognition to the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) for enrolling over 20,000 vulnerable persons, mainly women, into the scheme.

He also appreciated traditional rulers and philanthropic individuals as well as organisations for their role in mobilising support for the initiative.

The governor, however, expressed concern over the high rate of out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure in Nigeria, which he said, placed a heavy burden on poor families.

Mr Sani stated, “Health insurance remains a vital bridge from vulnerability to security, and from exclusion to inclusion.’’

Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Umma Ahmad, described the enrolment as a bold step towards reducing maternal and child mortality in the state.

Ms Ahmad said that the programme, supported by CHAI, had so far enrolled 10,916 beneficiaries, with the impact expected to be felt in primary health facilities across the state.

She stated that the initiative would enhance access to maternal, newborn, and child health services, improve health outcomes, and build a more resilient healthcare system.
(NAN)