From Aminu Dalhatu (Kaduna)
Kaduna State government says over four hundred thousand residents have been enrolled into the state Contributory Health Scheme aimed at increasing access to Basic Health Care Services towards achieving Health Coverage.
Deputy Governor of the State, Dr Hadiza Balarabe stated this during the Flagged off ceremony on the Identification and Enrollment Excercise for the Beneficiaries of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund held in Kaduna.
According to Dr Hadiza Balarabe, the first set of beneficiaries that would be enrolled at no cost include the elderly, people living with disabilities, children under 5 years of age and pregnant women.
The Deputy governor noted that, Kaduna State had accredited about 300 Health Care facilities at both Primary and Secondary levels of care to deliver the services.
Dr Hadiza Balarabe maintained that, Kaduna State Government had also earmarked 1% of its Consolidated Revenue Funds (CRF) to the Authority for the provision of free health care services to the vulnerable population in the state.
Dr Hadiza Balarabe expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Health, National Identity Management Commission and other implementing Agencies at both Federal and State Levels for the commitment, Particularly the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for providing all the necessary support and coordination towards the successful implementation of the program.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Mohammed Baloni stated that, Kaduna State being one of the Beneficiaries of fund, qualified after meeting the federal government criteria including the establishment of contributory health scheme to provide access quality and affordable health to all residents of the State.
She said the state government had contributed one hundred million naira funds among others for the excercise.
Dr Baloni explained that, the Basic health care provision fund would be implemented through the National Primary Health Care and the National Health Insurance Scheme and sister agencies in the state.
The Coordinator, National Health Insurance Scheme in Kaduna State, Alhaji Jafaru Danzari noted that the programme was designed to support vulnerable groups to benefit health care coverage of government.