Isiyaku Ahmed
The Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA) has announced major gains in healthcare access and financial protection for residents as the global community commemorates Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day 2025.
Speaking during a press briefing on Friday at the KSCHMA Conference Hall, the Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr. Rahila Aliyu Mukhtar, said the year’s theme, “Unaffordable Health Costs: We Are Sick of It!”, sharply reflects the reality for many families and reinforces the state’s commitment to expanding affordable healthcare.
She credited the progress recorded to the leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the oversight of the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran.
KSCHMA, which was established under Law No. 3 of 2016, has a mandate to provide pooled, equitable, and affordable healthcare for all residents, is yielding unprecedented results,” she added.
Dr. Mukhtar revealed that enrolment across all programs increased from 497,262 in 2023 to 933,014 in 2025, an 87.6 percent rise.
A breakdown of the figures KSCHMA’s Executive Director indicates a massive 935 percent increase in the state-funded vulnerable group program, rising from 4,903 to 50,745 beneficiaries.
“The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) enrolment grew by 215 percent to 342,515, while the formal sector recorded a 40 percent rise to 537,914.
“The informal sector, long considered difficult to onboard, grew by more than 1,143 percent.
“Overall, more than 145,000 pregnant women, 124,000 children under five, 46,000 people living with disabilities, 31,000 people with chronic conditions, 29,000 people living with HIV, and over 3,600 inmates are currently benefitting from the scheme,” she said.
The KSCHMA Boss also highlighted strengthened collaboration with key agencies, including the State Primary Healthcare Management Board, Hospitals Management Board, Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumable Supply Agency (DMCSA), Kano State Health Trust Fund (KHETFUND), and development partners.
According to her, beyond enrolment, the KSCHMA reported significant operational improvements.
These include an aggressive communication and marketing strategy, the rollout of a service charter, the AbbaCare program for sickle cell patients, and student health coverage under SCHEP, the Zakat and Waqf program, upgraded call centre capacity, a modernized self-service portal, and digitized PHC service utilization.
She said additional achievements include over 400 supportive supervision visits, the deployment of officers to high-volume facilities to cut service delays, the installation of solar power solutions in key facilities, and the introduction of house-to-house verification for BHCPF beneficiaries, described as the first of its kind in Nigeria.
“We also piloted a phone feedback survey targeting high maternal mortality LGAs, contacting more than 6,000 enrollees.”
Despite these milestones, she said more work lies ahead.
“Our Priorities for 2026 include deepening enrolment in the informal sector, addressing drug stock-outs, scaling provider capacity, and expanding technology-driven service delivery,” Dr Mukhtar added.
She stressed that achieving UHC requires collective ownership.
“Government cannot provide everything for everyone, but it must involve everyone in everything it does.
“Every new enrollee represents a family protected from financial shock and a step toward a healthier, more productive Kano.”
Dr. Mukhtar reaffirmed KSCHMA’s commitment to actualizing the Governor’s vision for a healthier state before taking questions from journalists.
