Kaduna Health Insurance sensitizes, provides medical services to over 2000 farmers
Kaduna Health Insurance sensitizes, provides medical services to over 2000 farmers
By: Our Correspondent
The Tomato Jos farm located in Kaigimi in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State is known for one thing – farming, which has become part of its daily routine.
However, on Thursday, May 11, 2023, it was not the case as over 2000 farmers converged on the farm to await a team from the Kaduna State Contributing Health Management Authority (KADCHMA), who were there to sensitize the farmers on Contributing Health Insurance scheme operated by the Authority.
Addressing the farmers, the Head of Marketing and Business Development of KADCHMA, Ibrahim Mohammed Alimi, said the duties of the farmers exposed them to many health hazards which cannot be solved with out-of-pocket spending.
Alimi informed the farmers that after brainstorming with the Management of Tomato Jos, they came into a conclusion that the Contributing Health Insurance scheme is the best option for them where an individual can pay N10,800 and all his health challenges are solved in the whole year.
He explained that the farmers can also enjoy this service at all the Primary Health Care facilities spread across the state, Government, and accredited private hospitals of their choice.
Giving credence to this, KADCHMA Head of Operations, Dr. Juliana Dauda Bungwam, who led the team said the sensitization exercise to the farmers is different because the Authority came with some health personnel like Lab Technicians, Pharmacists, Doctors among others to provide free medical services to them.
The farmers numbering over 2000 had their vitals signs taken, blood pressure also taken, and then prescriptions were made and drugs provided. Drugs provided include; drugs for malaria, ulcers, coughs, headache, and body pain, vitamins, and others.
An excited Admin Smallholder Team, Tomato Jos, Hannatu Irimiya, said the farmers have not had it so good considering that most of them are rural dwellers and such sensitization and medical services are provided for them without hassle.
Irimiya added that the KADCHMA sensitization and medical outreach will go a long way to fill the vacuum created by the absence of a standard health facility in the area, and the farmers are finding it easy to use their money to go to clinics for medical checkups and treatment.
The Admin Smallholder Team also agreed that the exercise was a success considering the number of farmers that showed up which was beyond their expectations as they are known not to leave their farmlands.
She said it was a good experience that the farmers took their health seriously enough to take part in the free medical exercise.
She equally disclosed that Tomato Jos as a mark of appreciation is registering 100 farmers on the contributing health insurance scheme as its pilot project, assuring that more will follow.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to our Correspondent described the exercise as one that has helped the farmers and encouraging them to key into the state-contributing health insurance scheme.
Hadiza Umar, who was full of excitement after receiving her medication for ulcer and malaria, collected the enrolment form to personally enroll herself since she was not among the first 100 farmers shortlisted by Tomato Jos.
Thanking KADCHMA for the foresight, the Smallholder Program Manager of Tomato Jos, Esson Akolo Elijah, said the event is thoughtful and came at the right time.
He added that it was a proactive measure from the Kaduna State Government, and his organization will reciprocate by partnering with KADCHMA for the betterment of their farmers’ health.
