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By: Abdullahi Inuwa
…As insured residents hit 563,460
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has reaffirmed his administration’s determination to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the state through sustained investment in healthcare financing and improved service delivery.
The governor made the commitment on Friday at the General Hospital, Katsina, during the official launch of the enrolment of 184,105 beneficiaries into the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) across the state’s 361 wards.
Radda said Katsina had continued to distinguish itself as a national model in healthcare financing and delivery, noting that the Katsina State Contributory Health Management Agency (KTSCHMA) was recognised as the Best State Health Insurance Agency in Nigeria in both 2024 and 2025.
According to the governor, the number of residents enrolled in the state’s health insurance scheme has risen significantly from 355,123 to 563,460 in 2026, representing a 54 per cent increase within three years.
He added that the state had expanded coverage to include retirees, members of the Hisbah Corps, Community Watch Corps and Persons with Disabilities, describing the expansion as part of efforts to ensure that vulnerable residents are not excluded from quality healthcare.
Speaking at the launch, the state Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Musa Adamu Funtua, said the initiative was in line with the Federal Government’s drive to achieve universal health coverage and guarantee affordable healthcare for vulnerable Nigerians.
Funtua explained that the beneficiaries, drawn from the state’s 361 wards, would have access to essential healthcare services, including treatment for common ailments, hypertension and diabetes, as well as maternal healthcare and safe delivery services.
He said the programme would significantly reduce the financial burden of accessing healthcare, particularly among poor and vulnerable households.
The commissioner further commended the management and board of KTSCHMA, saying their achievements in transparency, accountability and effective utilisation of healthcare resources had earned the agency national recognition.
Earlier, the Director-General of KTSCHMA, Muhammad T.I. Safana, explained that the Basic Health Care Provision Fund was an intervention designed to strengthen primary healthcare services and expand access to affordable medical care.
Safana disclosed that Katsina had recorded significant progress in health insurance coverage, with more than half a million vulnerable residents enrolled in various health insurance programmes as of July 2026.
He said the latest enrolment would further deepen the state’s efforts to ensure that residents, particularly those in vulnerable groups, could access essential healthcare without being pushed into financial hardship.
The event ended with a vote of thanks delivered by the Chairman of the KTSCHMA Board, Alhaji Isa Kaita Sama’ila Damale, who commended the state government and stakeholders for their continued commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery across Katsina.
The latest initiative further underscores the Radda administration’s push to make affordable and accessible healthcare a reality for residents across the state.
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