In a bid to provide medical services to the citizenry, the Zamfara State government has enrolled 34,000 poor and vulnerable people under the basic health care provision fund in the State.
The vision of the state government is to achieve Universal Health Coverage for all residents of Zamfara, where no one is left behind in accessing healthcare.
This was disclosed on Wednesday by Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle at the flag-off of the State Contributory Healthcare Scheme, held at Talata Mafara local government area of the state.
He stated that access to affordable healthcare has continue to be a challenge for most households due to high level of poverty, “hence Health Insurance population coverage throughout the country has remained low”.he said.
According to him, the challenge has forced most states of the federation to domesticate the NHIS based on their religion and traditional value system and other peculiarities.
He explained that ZAMCHEMA Scheme was envisaged as one of the successful reforms in the health sector with over 15,595 prospective enrollees in the Formal Sector Program and 34,000 vulnerable population to be covered under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF).
“In line with the State’s policy drive to strengthen the State health system, the state government has approved 1% to State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency as equity fund for the vulnerable groups and matching grant for the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund BHCPF and also to augment the risk pool of the Contributory Health Scheme”.
“Our vision is to achieve Universal Health Coverage for all residents of Zamfara where no one is left behind in accessing healthcare”.
He revealed that the implementation of the scheme is a herculean task, thus the smooth operation of ZAMCHEMA and the accomplishment of projected results will essentially depend on the commitment of the Government.
In his remarks,the state commissioner for health Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar MC Called on traditional rulers and CBOs to monitor the implementation of the programme at facility level at their respective domains.
Aliyu MC said Health facilities would be provided with fund to procure drugs for treatment of patients free and to carry out certain maintenance in the facilities.
“70% of the fund is for drugs and medication while 30% for maintenance of facility structure like repair of broken doors and windows and other equipment, there is also provision for referral of patients i.e from PHC facility to Secondary facilities up to tertiary facilities and all treatment are free”.
The Commissioner also said Governor Bello Matawalle has approved the payment equity share to NHIS to further facilitate enrolment of additional 12,000 beneficiaries.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary zamfara Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (ZAMCHEMA) Dr. Abdulkadir Aliyu Shinkafi disclosed that 34,000 beneficiaries were already enrolled in the programme that was flagged off by Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle in November 2021.
“National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) accredited the facilities where clients are going to access the free services”, he stated.
He explained that Target beneficiaries are under 5 children, pregnant women, aged people and less privileged persons.
Dr. Shinkafi appreciated the effort of the Governor for given required attention to ZAMCHEMA and called on beneficiaries and entire citizens of the State to reciprocate the gesture by supporting the policies and ideals of the present administration.
In his goodwillmessage, the Director General (DG) NHIS, Nasir Sambo who was represented by Zamfara State Coordinator NHIS Abdullahi Dalhatu assured to support the scheme in the State.
