By Uzairu Dauda:
Bauchi State civil servants have been urged to give maximum cooperation to the Bauchi State Health Contributory Management Agency (BASHCMA) to strengthen access to quality healthcare for workers, their families, and other residents of the state.
The call was made by the Head of the Bauchi State Civil Service, Barrister Muhammad Sani Umar, shortly after participating in a road walk organized by BASHCMA to commemorate Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day in Bauchi.
Barrister Sani Umar described UHC Day as significant, noting that good health is essential for productivity and sustainable development.
He commended BASHCMA for its efforts in creating awareness about health Contributory Scheme and promoting inclusiveness to ensure that all citizens in the state are covered.
According to him, the philosophy of the administration of Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad is centered on reaching every resident with quality healthcare services, adding that, this is being achieved through the employment of more health workers and the introduction of innovative healthcare delivery strategies, particularly for people living in remote and underserved areas.
The Head of Service assured that the state government remains committed to improving the welfare and living conditions of civil servants.
He noted that BASHCMA has made access to healthcare services easier for workers, adding that more than 7,000 vulnerable persons are currently benefiting from the scheme through government and civil servants’ contributions.
Barrister Umar encouraged BASHCMA to intensify its grassroots engagement to ensure that no one is left behind, assuring that all workers at both state and local government levels would be enrolled in the health Contributory scheme.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of Bauchi State Health Contributory Management Agency, Alhaji Ibrahim Inuwa Duguri, represented by the Director of Programmes, Alhaji Abdulkadir S. Abdulkadir, expressed appreciation to the Head of Service for his exemplary leadership and active participation in the road walk.
Inuwa Duguri said, the gesture served as a morale booster for staff of the agency to continue working diligently toward achieving its objectives.
He explained that the road walk brought together stakeholders including the State Primary Healthcare Board, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), the Bauchi State Health Trust Fund, civil society organizations, and other partners, all united by the common goal of promoting One Health in Bauchi State.
Alhaji Inuwa Duguri noted that Universal Health Coverage Day is designated by the World Health Organization (WHO), and that BASHCMA is leading the celebration in Bauchi to raise awareness about the importance of ensuring that every citizen has access to quality healthcare services when needed and without financial hardship.
Also speaking, the Desk Officer for the UHC programme at BASHCMA, Miss Zainab Bappah Gamawa, explained that the goal of Universal Health Coverage is to ensure that everyone, everywhere, can access the health services they need without suffering financial hardship.
She said UHC covers a full range of essential health services, including health promotion, disease prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care.
According to her, achieving UHC requires sustainable financing mechanisms such as government funding, social health insurance, and community-based health insurance schemes.
Miss Gamawa emphasized that the people of Bauchi State deserve effective, safe, and people-centered healthcare services through BASHCMA.
She added that Universal Health Coverage Day serves as a reminder of the global commitment to health for all, stressing that UHC is not only about healthcare delivery but also about social justice and human rights.
