By Edito By Editor
The Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA), in collaboration with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), has mobilised traditional leaders to accelerate enrolment of vulnerable persons into the state’s Contributory Healthcare Scheme.
The agency made the call at a one-day advocacy engagement with District Heads (Hakimai) held on Wednesday in Kano under the Vulnerable Population Programme (VPP).
The engagement was aimed at strengthening community mobilisation and enhancing the understanding of traditional leaders on the scope, mandate and performance of the VPP.
Speaking at the event held at R and K Hotel, the Executive Secretary of KSCHMA, Dr Rahila Aliyu Muktar, described healthcare as a collective community responsibility.
Muktar said achieving meaningful healthcare coverage required the commitment of government, traditional institutions, development partners and communities.
She said traditional leaders occupied strategic positions in creating awareness, identifying eligible households and supporting vulnerable persons through the enrolment process.
According to her, the engagement is designed to strengthen the role of traditional leaders as trusted community advocates for improved access to healthcare.
The programme featured presentations on health challenges affecting vulnerable communities, the mandate and performance of KSCHMA, as well as the roles of traditional and religious leaders in advancing the VPP.
Participants also discussed flexible philanthropic options, including nomination-based enrolment, ward-level Sadaqah routing and voluntary matched mobilisation.
A panel discussion provided an opportunity for selected traditional leaders to share experiences on healthcare challenges in their communities and explore practical approaches to increasing VPP enrolment.
The agency said participating leaders were expected to support community announcements, identify eligible households and engage relevant stakeholders to advance implementation of the programme.
It added that the initiative would also establish a network of community health champions among traditional leaders to sustain advocacy for the VPP and improved healthcare access.
KSCHMA said the initiative was in line with the healthcare transformation agenda of Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf, aimed at ensuring that vulnerable populations across the state were not left behind.
A statement signed by Aminu Ahmad Turaki, Public Relations Officer of KSCHMA, said the agency remained committed to strategic community partnerships and inclusive healthcare coverage.
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