The Chairman of Kudan Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, Dauda Abba, has proposed a requirement for would-be couples to present the Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority (KADCHMA) enrollment card before getting married.
Abba said this would increase enrollment in the scheme.
He made the proposal on Monday in Kudan LGA Secretariat at the KADCHMA’s inauguration of the informal sector enrollment campaign into the scheme.
The chairman said the proposal aimed to ensure couples have access to quality healthcare services.
According to reports, the exercise, which would also be inaugurated at Kagarko and Chikun LGAs, is expected to be carried out across all 23 LGAs of the state.
It was supported by EngerderHealth Consortium, International Society for Media in Public Health (ISMPH), Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI) and Legislative Advocacy Initiative for Sustainable Development Goals (LISDEL).
Abba stated that pregnant women would particularly benefit from the scheme’s coverage of antenatal care, delivery and postnatal care.
The chairman also added that the health scheme provides financial protection against unexpected medical expenses, enabling pregnant women to access quality healthcare without financial hardship.
He added that the scheme also provides access to quality healthcare services, including antenatal care, delivery, and postnatal care, with or without complications, reducing maternal mortality rates.
By making KADCHMA enrollment a requirement for marriage, the chairman believed that awareness and uptake of the scheme would increase, ultimately improving the health and well-being of citizens.
He, therefore, said that he would push an Executive Order to the LGA legislative arm for inputs to make by-laws that would require intending couples to present KADCHMA enrollment cards before the wedding.
Abba added that the by-law would ensure that KADCHMA enrollment cards are required for political office aspirants in the LGA to support the scheme’s implementation.
