The Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority has commenced the distribution of health insurance identity cards to about 8,168 enrollees across the state. 

The initiative was in partnership with the Clinton Health Access Initiative, a global health organisation committed to saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries.

Inaugurating the distribution at the Unguwan Dosa Primary Health Care, on Friday in Kaduna, the Director-General (D-G) of KADCHMA, Abubakar Hassan, said the contributory health insurance was aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality in the state.

He added that maternal and child mortality was not supposed to be associated with Kaduna State, stressing that the government was passionate about the healthy well-being of women, children and its people.

Mr Hassan thanked the state government for the support and other partners in ensuring the success of the initiative.

Earlier, the State Commissioner for Health, Umma Ahmed, said the initiative was aimed at ensuring that everybody in the state receives or has access to universal health coverage.

Ms Ahmed, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Aisha Abubakar, explained that universal health coverage entailed that everybody has to provide qualitative healthcare services where and when they need them at affordable prices that would not create any form of financial hardship.

She said, “This is a global agreement that every human being is entitled to.’’

The commissioner added that in an attempt by the ministry to ensure everybody receives affordable and quality health care, they conducted an evaluation to decide the best possible ways.

Ms Ahmed, therefore, said a decision was made that the existing 255 PHCs in the state located in every ward should be the access point to ensure that the essential health services within the universal health service coverage reach the people.

Speaking on affordability which formed one of the primary objectives of the contributory health insurance scheme, she said that poverty justified the emergence of the scheme.

Speaking further, Ms Ahmed said the government planned to start by enrolling 20,000 vulnerable persons which include pregnant women, children, persons with disability, and women, adding that they had more needs than others.

She also said the planned enrollment was in response to the high infant mortality and morbidity rate.

The District Head of Kawo, Kaduna North Local Government Area, Jibril Mohammed, commended the state government for the initiative, stressing that it would help healthcare seekers especially women to access prompt and quality service within their locality.

He said that giving birth at home by some women was not something to boast of, adding that some services were required after birth which could only be given in medical facilities.

Mr Mohammed urged pregnant women to always go for antenatal care, and children to also be taken for immunisation when the need arises.

Also speaking, Funsho Lewu of CHAI, said the health insurance scheme was a beacon of hope as a promise for better health and their collective commitment to ensuring the well-being of every person in Kaduna State.

He said, “As we begin distribution of these identity cards, we are distributing the keys to a healthier future and also unlocking quality health care that every citizen in the state deserves.’’

Mr Lewu added that the initiative was a collective reflection of CHAI and the Kaduna State’s resolve to ensure that no one was left behind in the pursuit of health as a fundamental human right.

Some of the beneficiaries, Hauwa’u Musa and Hafsat Ibrahim, who are pregnant women, thanked the Kaduna State Government for finding them worthy to be enrolled into the scheme.

 The duo pledged to make judicious use of their identity cards for the betterment of their health and their unborn babies.

(NAN)