Hussaini Ibrahim 
ZAMFARA, Nigeria – Zamfara State has announced plans to spend ₦1.07 billion on free healthcare for 89,232 poor and vulnerable residents across its 147 political wards.
The scheme, to be managed by the Zamfara State Health Contributory Management Agency (ZAMCHEMA), was agreed during a two-day advocacy meeting on health resource mobilisation, convened by UNICEF and the 14 Local Government Councils in Birnin Kebbi.
A communiqué signed by Engineer Garba Ahmad Garba Yandi, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Samaila Hussani Moriki, ALGON Chairman; and Michael Juma, Chief of UNICEF Sokoto Field Office, confirmed the initiative on Friday.
According to the document, beneficiaries will be selected from the National Social Register, focusing on the poorest 2 per cent of households. Target groups include children under five, adolescents, orphans, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and the elderly.
Officials said the programme aims to close gaps left by dwindling donor support while ensuring equity in access to health services.
“The initiative will improve service delivery and strengthen the resilience of our healthcare system,” the communiqué stated.
Implementation will commence once the Memorandum of Understanding is signed by relevant state authorities. Analysts say the programme could serve as a model for other states seeking to expand universal healthcare coverage through domestic resource mobilisation.
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Mirian Gom