The Kebbi government has enrolled 100 women with disabilities into the State Contributory Health Management Agency (KECHEMA).

Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the programme launch in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday, Suwaiba Jadadi from KECHEMA said the programme aimed to facilitate easy access to health for persons with disabilities.

Ms Jadadi spoke at a one-day mental health awareness outreach and enrollment of 100 women with disabilities in Kebbi State Contributory Health Management Agency (KECHEMA).

The programme was organised by the Network of Women with Disabilities (NWD) in collaboration with KECHEMA and NANAS Charity Foundation.

Ms Jadadi said, “This will have a great impact on their lives because most of them need medical start healthcare services, and it’s very difficult for most of them to access care.

“But with this free medical healthcare, whatsoever their problem is, they can easily go to the hospital, and they will get the services free-of-charge, without paying a penny.”

She said the agency used to enrol more than 1,000 enrollees annually, noting that it had so far enrolled over 140,000 beneficiaries across the state.

On her part, Lai’atu Augustine-Bamaiyi, the state coordinator, Network of Women with Disabilities (NWD), said the essence of the outreach was to bring succour to the plights of those living with disabilities in the state.

She observed that persons with disabilities need somebody to put them through to be able to address some of their plights “so that they can live their lives just like any other human being.”

“As you can see, the programme is organised in collaboration with KECHEMA, a state agency that supports and does a lot for vulnerable persons. Currently, they are enrolling 100 vulnerable persons into their insurance scheme for free,” she said.

Ms Augustine-Bamaiyi advised people living with disabilities not to see their challenges as the end of life. Instead, they should be determined and courageous enough to reach their goal and attain maximum peak.

(NAN)