The 14 local government councils of Zamfara have expressed readiness to invest over N1 billion in the state’s Health Contributory Management Agency (ZAMCHEMA).

The investment is for free healthcare services to 89,232 poor and vulnerable persons across the 147 political wards of the state.

This is contained in a statement made available to journalists in Gusau on Saturday.

The statement was jointly signed by the state commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Ahmad Yandi; chairman, state chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Sama’ila Moriki, and chief of UNICEF Sokoto Field Office, Michael Juma.

The statement reads in parts: “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 added that all the beneficiaries would be selected from the National Social Register, specifically targeting two per cent of the poor and vulnerable individuals identified in the register.

The statement revealed 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 further said that the programme was expected to commence as soon as 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.”

(NAN)