Nasir el-Rufai


Save the Children International (SCI) and the Legislative Advocacy Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL) have enlisted the support of Kaduna State Assembly for increased investment in the health sector toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).


Mr Farouk Abdulkadir, Advocacy and Campaign Coordinator, SCI, said on Saturday, at a capacity building of the lawmakers in kano, that the support of the lawmakers was key to achieving UHC in  Kaduna State.


Abdulkadir explained that the capacity building was to enhance their capacities and deepen their understanding on health financing and UHC in line with the goals of Primary Health Care and health policies.


He added that the engagement would enable the lawmakers to develop a Legislative Health Agenda for the remaining part of 2022 and 2023, that would guide legislative interventions in the state’s health sector.


“The workshop will also enhance the understanding of the lawmakers’ roles in increasing healthcare financial and protection of the poor and vulnerable against health risks,” he said.


Mr Usman Mohammed, Vice President, LISDEL, commended the leadership of the state Assembly for the commitment to contribute their quota in improving access to quality basic healthcare service in the state.


Mohammed said lawmakers were expected to support the needed legislation that would improve the efficiency and effectiveness health insurance scheme being implemented by the Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority (KADCHMA).


The Director-General, KADCHMA, Mr Abubakar Hassan, also commended the leadership of the state Assembly for their support to improving the health and wellbeing of the people of the state.


Hassan acknowledged the contribution of the lawmakers to the achievements being recorded in the state’s health insurance scheme.


He pointed out that the poor and vulnerable population, including women, children and persons with disabilities were accessing free basic health care services in health facilities , courtesy of the law passed by the Assembly.


He commended LISDEL, SCI and the state Ministry of Health for supporting the authority to deliver its mandate the best way possible.


On her part, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Mohammed-Baloni, equally expressed joy with the level of attention the lawmakers accord to the health sector.


Mohammed-Baloni, who was represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr Joseph Sunday, particularly thanked the state assembly for its support during the budgeting process.


The Speaker of the Assembly, Yusuf Zailani, said that the capacity building would improve their knowledge on the workings of the health sector and enable the lawmakers to improve their oversight function.


Zailani, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker, Dr Isaac Auta, reiterated the state Assembly’s continued support to ensure the sector gets the needed financial resources to implement its programmes and projects.


One of the facilitators, Dr Olanrewaju Olayemi, said that the attainment of the UHC largely depends on the availability of financial resources to implement planned programmes and projects.