34,000 BENEFICIARIES NOW HAVE ACCESS TO FREE HEALTHCARE SERVICES IN ZAMFARA
Governor Bello Matawallen Maradun of Zamfara has on Tuesday flagged off the commencement of access to health care services by 34,000 beneficiaries under Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF).
Matawallen Maradun who was represented by his Deputy, Senator Hassan Muhammad Nasiha at the event organised by State Contributory Health Care Management Agency (ZAMCHEMA) held in Talata Mafara town, Talata Mafara local government area of the state.
The governor said that with the flagged off of the scheme all the 34,000 beneficiaries under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) who are vulnerable groups now have free access to health care services across the state.
“As we all know, access to affordable healthcare continues to be a challenge for most households due to high level of poverty hence Health Insurance population coverage throughout the country has remained low.
“This challenge forced most states of the federation to domesticate the NHIS based on their religion and traditional value system and other peculiarities.
“Over two years now that I commissioned State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency.
“I am happy to say that, the scheme is envisaged as one of the successful reforms in the health sector in the state with over 15,595 prospective enrollees in the Formal Sector Program and 34,000 vulnerable population to be covered under the BHCPF”, Matawalle said.
According to him, the scheme is part of his administration’s intervention towards achieving Universal Health Coverage by ensuring all residents of the state have access to effective, quality and affordable health care services.
“This is also part of our vision is protection of families from the financial hardship of huge medical bills and ensure improvement of health facilities throughout the State.
“Our vision is to achieve Universal Health Coverage for all residents of the state, no one is left behind in accessing healthcare services”, the governor added.
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He commended state ministry of health and ZAMCHEMA for their commitments for the success of the scheme.
“This is a clear indication that both ministry and agency has all it takes to be a point of reference in achieving Universal Health Coverage in the state”, he explained.
The Commissioner of Health, Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar MC called on traditional rulers and Community Based Organizations to monitor the implementation of the program at facility level of their respective domains.
Abubakar MC said that the state government have procured drugs and all other requirements to ensure free treatment of all beneficiaries under the scheme at all facilities in the state.
“There is also provision for referral of patients from Primary Health Care to Secondary up to Tertiary facilities”, the Commissioner added.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary ZAMCHEMA, Dr. Abdulkadir Shinkafi said all the 34,000 beneficiaries of the scheme comprised
under 5 children, pregnant women, aged people and other categories less privileged and vulnerable groups.
Shinkafi noted that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) accredited and certified all the health facilities where clients are going to access the free services.
He called on the beneficiaries and entire citizens to appreciate and pray for the gesture of the present administration under Governor Bello Matawalle.
