The Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Agency (KADCHMA) says it has enrolled more than 500,000 people into the scheme since its inception in 2020.

Abubakar Alhassan, director-general of KADCHMA, disclosed this at the enrolment of 120 pregnant women into the scheme by Lifidi Jama’a Charity Foundation in Kafanchan, Kaduna state.

He stated that the figure comprised persons in the formal and informal sectors, adding that 98 per cent coverage had been achieved for those in the formal sector of the state.

“As regards the informal sector, largely made up of vulnerable groups, we are not where we expect to be but we are making progress.

The KADCHMA boss commended the foundation for its efforts at ensuring pregnant women were not left out of the scheme.

“Today is another milestone for us and you know what that translates to for these pregnant women.

“It means that for the next one year, these 120 women will be doing their antenatal and eventually be put to bed under our scheme.

“This will have a great impact in terms of maternal and neonatal indices in Kaduna State.

In his remarks, Bashir Idris, founder and chairman of the foundation, said the gesture was borne out of the need to always reach out to the less privileged in society.

Mr Idris said there was no better way to show God’s gratitude for His many blessings upon one’s life than to assist the downtrodden.

He called on other well-meaning individuals and organisations to complement government’s efforts at ensuring vulnerable groups were well looked after.

“If the Almighty God has blessed you, it is only right that you thank Him by lending a hand of support to the less privileged.

“You don’t have to have all the money in the world before you think of helping others, so I want to encourage others to do the same.”

In their separate remarks, Paul Anya and Abdullahi Alhassan, chairmen of the Christian Association of Nigeria and Jama’atu Nasril Islam in Jema’a LGA, noted that anyone who looked after the poor was looking after God.

Some of the enrollees who spoke at the event thanked the founder of the foundation for coming to their aid and prayed God to replenish his pocket.

The foundation also gave out cash donations to 120 blind, deaf and other physically challenged persons.

(NAN)