KADCHMA seeks Emir  of Zazzau support in  reducing out-of-pocket spending on healthcare

KADCHMA seeks Emir of Zazzau’s support in reducing out-of-pocket spending on healthcare

By: Femi Mustapha

The Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority (KADCHMA) has sought the support of the Emir of Zazzau in its move to reduce out-of-pocket spending on healthcare.

The Director-General of KADCHMA, Mr. Abubakar Hassan, asserted this during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, in his palace in Zaria yesterday.

According to him, reducing out-of-pocket spending on health will reduce poverty arising from catastrophic and impoverishing health spending.

The Director-General explained that the agency was established by law in February 2018 and is an integral part of Kaduna State Human Capital Development and Social Protection Strategy for all residents.

He stressed that the visit to the Palace is an advocacy to highlight the operationalization of the scheme and seek the support of the traditional institution in creating awareness for increased access and coverage, especially within your emirate and the state as a whole.

The DG added that the engagement is about deepening engagement and carrying the traditional institutions along as they are one of the institutions closest to the people at the grassroots.

“We are also planning to organize an engagement meeting of traditional and religious institutions to orient them on the objectives of the scheme as stakeholders.

“At this junction, Your Highness, I would like to humbly solicit your consent to personally grace the proposed Engagement meeting scheduled to take place,” he said.

In his response, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli said he is a living example of the benefits of a Health insurance scheme as he has been on health insurance coverage for the last 20 years.

The Emir said such a scheme, like that of Kaduna State Contributory Health, in no small measure reduced out-of-pocket spending on healthcare, promising the support of all traditional institutions in Kaduna state as the Chairman.

“It will be recalled that Kaduna State Contributory Health Scheme also provides access to quality, affordable, equitable healthcare services to all residents of Kaduna State without financial barriers to achieving Universal Health Coverage.

“This scheme comprises three basic components: – the formal, informal, and vulnerable.

“The Formal involves all salary workers on the payroll of the state government whose dues are deducted from the source as their contribution.

“The Informal is comprised of traders, businessmen and women, farmers, artisans, and all citizens outside the government payroll.

“The Vulnerable included the poorest of the poor, children under five, pregnant women, persons with disabilities, and the aged who are fifty years and above.

“These sets of people’s premiums are being paid by the Federal and State Governments from the one percent consolidated revenue generated and being a channel for the vulnerable.

“The hallmark of it all is the achievement of UHC and improving the poor health indices in the State. Our core values in KACCHIMA are Integrity, Professionalism, Accountability, and Efficiency.”