In a move to bridge donor funding gaps and strengthen Universal Health Coverage in Zamfara State, the 14 Local Government Councils have pledged to invest over one billion naira in free healthcare services for the poor and vulnerable.
According to a communiqué jointly signed by Zamfara State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Garba Ahmad Garba Yandi, State ALGON Chairman, Samaila Hussani Moriki; and UNICEF Sokoto Field Office Chief, Michael Juma and issued to newsmen in Gusau.
It explains that, the initiative is aimed at achieving better health outcomes for the poorest and most vulnerable individuals in Zamfara State.
The Communique explains that, the funds will be paid to the Zamfara State Health Contributory Management Agency (ZAMCHEMA) as capitation fees to cover 89,232 individuals across the 147 political wards of the state.
“In a bid to augment the donors’ funding gap towards achieving Universal Health Coverage in Zamfara State, the Local Government Council of the State has committed to invest 1,070,782,080 naira, to be paid to the State Health Contributory Management Agency (ZAMCHEMA) as capitation fees for the free healthcare services to 89,232 poor individuals across the 147 political wards of the state”
It says the commitment was part of the resolutions reached at the end of a two-day advocacy meeting on domestic fund mobilization for scaling up the health contributory programme in the informal sector.
The meeting which was held in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, was convened by UNICEF in collaboration with the Local Government Councils.
It reveals that, the beneficiaries will be drawn from the National Social Register, focusing on 2 percent of the poorest and most vulnerable households.
Adding that, the target groups include children under five, adolescents, orphans, pregnant women, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.
The Communique further highlights that , the programme will commence once the Memorandum of Understanding is approved by the State Ministry of Justice, endorsed by the Governor, and formally signed by the Commissioner, ALGON, and ZAMCHEMA.
AMINU DALHATU
