Jigawa State House of Assembly Committee on Health says the amended law establishing the State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency mandates the agency to explore additional funding sources beyond state government allocation.
Chairman of the Committee and Member representing Guri Constituency, Alhaji Usman Abdullahi Tura Musari, stated this during an oversight visit to the agency’s headquarters in Dutse.
He emphasized the need for JICHIMA to source funds from philanthropists, institutions, political office holders, as well as zakat and waqf contributions to enhance its capacity and efficiency in delivering quality healthcare services to citizens.
Usman Musari noted that extending the contribution to fund JICHIMA beyond deductions from the civil servants salaries will ensure the sustainability of the programme.
He, therefore, advised the agency to intensify efforts towards establishing its offices across the 27 local government areas in the state for effective service delivery.
In his remark, member representing Gwiwa Constituency, Alhaji Aminu Zakari, called on the agency to improve its services across all the registered health facilities and ensure that the registered persons get required services.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the agency, Pharmacist Hamza Maigari Kakudi, pointed out that, the agency was established to reduce health disparities and ensure that vulnerable groups have access to quality healthcare services.
He explained that the agency is currently embarking on a statewide campaign to enroll 1,000 vulnerable people per ward in line with the Namadi led administration’s commitment to provide affordable healthcare services to less privileged individuals in the state.
The committee and the agency deliberate on the proposed plan to provide permanent office accomodations for the agency as well as issues relating to staff, funding and improvement of quality services.
Usman Mohammed Zaria
