The Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority (KADCHMA) has launched a statewide sensitisation campaign aimed at enrolling approximately 27,000 private school teachers into the state’s contributory health insurance scheme, as part of efforts to expand healthcare access and advance universal health coverage.
The initiative targets teachers in the state’s estimated 15,000 private schools, with KADCHMA engaging school proprietors through the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools of Nigeria (NAPPS) to drive awareness and participation.
Speaking during an engagement with private school owners in Kaduna, KADCHMA Director-General Abubakar Hassan said the programme is designed to protect workers from the financial burden of healthcare costs while extending insurance coverage to more residents in the organised private sector.
Focus on financial protection
Hassan noted that out-of-pocket healthcare spending remains a significant contributor to poverty, particularly among low-income earners and private sector employees who often lack formal health insurance coverage.
He said the contributory scheme is intended to provide beneficiaries with access to quality and affordable healthcare services while shielding families from catastrophic medical expenses that can result from unexpected illnesses.
According to the authority, public sector workers are already covered under the scheme, with current efforts focused on expanding enrolment among organised private institutions and vulnerable populations.
Teachers identified as strategic group
KADCHMA said private school teachers were selected for the enrolment campaign because of the sector’s structured leadership, which is expected to facilitate coordinated registration and implementation.
The authority estimates that enrolling approximately 27,000 teachers will significantly increase insurance coverage within the organised private sector and contribute to the state’s broader universal health coverage objectives.
Hassan added that the authority’s long-term goal is to ensure that every Kaduna State resident has access to health insurance, regardless of employment status.
Comprehensive benefit package
The health insurance package was developed based on an assessment of the most common health conditions affecting residents, according to the authority.
Covered services include treatment for illnesses such as malaria, typhoid fever, ulcers and hypertension, alongside other essential healthcare interventions aimed at reducing the financial impact of routine and emergency medical care.
Stakeholders endorse initiative
Private school proprietors welcomed the initiative, describing it as an important welfare programme for teachers.
NAPPS National Vice-President for the North-West Zone, Jafar Yusuf, said the engagement provided school owners with a clearer understanding of the scheme and expressed confidence that members would support the enrolment drive.
Similarly, Kaduna State NAPPS Chairman, Busayo Akintunde, described the programme as a significant boost to teachers’ welfare.
He noted that the scheme requires a monthly contribution of ₦1,000 while providing access to a broad range of healthcare services, including treatment for common illnesses and more specialised procedures such as caesarean operations.
The enrolment campaign reflects Kaduna State’s continued efforts to broaden health insurance coverage beyond the public sector and strengthen financial protection against healthcare costs as part of its universal health coverage strategy.
