Zamfara To Spend N1 Billion On Free Healthcare For Vulnerable Residents.

Dauda Lawal.

The 14 local government councils of Zamfara State have declared their willingness to commit over N1 billion to the state’s Health Contributory Management Agency (ZAMCHEMA).

The funding is intended to provide free healthcare services to 89,232 poor and vulnerable individuals across the 147 political wards of the state.

This was contained in a statement released to journalists in Gusau on Saturday.

The statement was jointly endorsed by the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ahmad Yandi; the Chairman of the state chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Sama’ila Moriki; and the Chief of UNICEF Sokoto Field Office, Michael Juma.

The statement reads in part: “In a bid to augment the donors’ funding gap towards achieving Universal Health Coverage in Zamfara, the Local Government Councils of the State have committed to invest N1 billion to be paid to the State Health Contributory Management Agency (ZAMCHEMA).

“This is part of the resolutions reached between UNICEF and the 14 Local Government Councils of the state at the end of a two-day advocacy meeting on domestic funds mobilisation for the scaling up of the health contributory programme for the informal sector held in Birnin Kebbi recently.

“The money will serve as capitation fees for the free healthcare services to 89,232 poor individuals across the 147 political wards of the state.

“The initiative is part of a broader effort to assist those who lack the financial means to access the basic healthcare services,” the statement said.

It further explained that all beneficiaries would be drawn from the National Social Register, specifically targeting two per cent of the poor and vulnerable individuals identified in the register.

The statement disclosed that: “This substantial investment is aimed at achieving better health outcomes for the poorest and most vulnerable individuals in Zamfara.

“The programme will cover children under five years, adolescents, orphans, pregnant women, persons with disability, and the aged.”

It also mentioned that the programme is expected to begin once the memorandum of understanding (MoU) “is approved by Gov. Dauda Lawal and the state ministry of justice, to be formally signed by the commissioner for local government, ALGON chairman and ZAMCHEMA.”