Jigawa State Government says nine hundred million naira is expended annually in the provision of free healthcare services to women and children for four years across the state.
Governor Badaru Abubakar disclosed this during the flag-off of the formal sector contributory health care scheme held at the Dutse general hospital.
According to him, high cost of healthcare services has been a challenge to families, low income individuals and other vulnerable segments of the society which is why the state government has increased the monthly funding from fifteen to seventy five million naira.
Alhaji Badaru Abubakar said the services cover all pregnant women, children under the ages of five, accident victims, correctional inmates and boarding students across the state.
He pointed out that the contributory healthcare scheme is a further effort in ensuring an overall objective of healthy and productive population through access to comprehensive, appropriate, affordable, efficient, equitable and quality essential health care.
The Governor added that financing healthcare delivery requires efficient and prudent management of resources which is why the government has consistently allocate an average of fifteen percent of the state budget to the sector since 2016.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the scheme, Dr. Nura Ibrahim Kazaure said no fewer than forty thousand civil servants of the state have been registered under the scheme while about two hundred thousand of their dependants would also benefit from the exercise.
Dr. Nura said the beneficiaries would access services through one hundred and ninety one healthcare providers that includes both private and public across the state.
He explained that all registered beneficiaries can immediately begin to access the services with their family members in their chosen healthcare facility.
USMAN MZ