CAN Members Mobilise For Kaduna State Health Insurance Scheme

Rev. Ma’aji Caleb, the Kaduna State Secretary, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has commended the government’s initiative on the introduction of Health Insurance Scheme. Reverend Caleb said that the initiative, which was thought of at the time when various diseases were plaguing the people, was apt and appealed to its members to key into the health scheme. He made the commendation on Sunday during a prayer programme at the Efe Oluwa Baptist Church, Kabala West in Kaduna North Local Government Area.

“This is a good initiative by the state government and I appeal to members who can afford the price to key into it,” he said.

Reverend Caleb urged for members to get enrolled into the scheme and also partner with the government to create awareness about the scheme with a view to boosting enrolment level. He further urged members to join the scheme as soon as possible in order to have access to services and proper health care to avoid preventable deaths. Reverend Caleb also said that the insurance would provide room for a reduced cost of medication services given to people and prevent treatable diseases from taking lives.

Abubakar Hassan,the Director-General of the State Contributory Health Management Authority, supports the scheme and appreciated the association for the sensitisation. Mr. Hassan said with an organisation such as CAN and other organiisations sensitising their members to the need to key into health Insurance scheme, it will go along way in achieving its overall objectives. He also said that faith-based organisations, community leaders, market leaders, youth and non- governmental oragnisations in the state had an important role to play in creating awareness.

“We are happy being here and the reception given to us shows that our partnership with CAN is sealed. Recently we were with CAN Chairman for a courtesy visit and he assured us of this sensitization; today we met with larger groups and this shows good partnership. We are taking the sensitisation across different communions until we reach the lowest level which is the family and individual.”

He solicited the support of members into the health scheme for good delivery, “We are soliciting your support into the scheme for the development of the state. Some people are not aware of the health insurance scheme packages and when you talk to them, they bring religious and cultural excuses.” He also said it was the desire of the state government to use the scheme as an instrument to achieve universal health coverage.

“The contributory health scheme is a way of contributing funds for the payment of healthcare services by all residents of the state. The scheme will cover for health care services rendered to beneficiaries at their selected health care facilities. Individual premium for health insurance at the agency costs N10, 650 annually while the family premium costs N57,000 annually.”

Hassan said that the scheme was saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that every resident of the state had access to quality and affordable healthcare service.