Contributory healthcare: KECHEMA flags off formal sector enrollment, target 89 principal civil servants

From Samaila Adebayo 

The Executive Secretary of Kebbi State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, (KECHEMA), Dr Jafar Muhammed Augie has said no fewer than 89 principal civil servants in the state are expected to be registered for the formal sector enrollment under the scheme.

Dr Augie while speaking to journalists during the flag off of the formal sector enrollment of principal civil servants for the state contributory healthcare scheme said the 3 percent deduction from the civil servants salaries by KECHEMA may not be enough to capture their dependants for the scheme. He said government can assist by contributing the 10 percent that's required from it.

He said the Equity Fund being advocated by IHP for more capturing of the vulnerable in the state is 2 percent from state, 1 percent from local government, 2 percent of the sum of contracts, 2 percent of Zakat and tithes as pledged by Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to enrol more of the less privilege in the state for the scheme.

"The formal sector enrollment is a milestone in the health coverage of Kebbi State. It would give equal quality of healthcare coverage to every citizens irrespitive of who there are at low cost.

"The principal civil servants are already keying into the scheme we want them to own it,we expect their criticism and complaint for the good of our people", he said.

Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu who was represented by the secretary to the state government, Alhaji Babale Umar Yauri commended KECHEMA and IHP for the successful implementation of the contributory healthcare scheme in kebbi State. 

He said "We decided to subsidize healthcare in the state so that a larger number of people can benefit from it. 

"The scheme will grow quality healthcare services in all facilities and inclusion of private sector for the good of larger number of less privilege in the state", he said.

Earlier Dr Aisha Senchi of the IHP said it has partner KECHEMA to see that the healthcare scheme is what it's today. While commending Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for his administration's support for the scheme, she said only 39,000 vulnerable were enrolled this year and enjoined government to approve the equity fund contributions by state and LG to enable more participation of less privilege in state.