For thousands of families in Zamfara State who often struggle to afford even the most basic medical care, relief is on the way. The 14 Local Government Councils in the state have pledged over ₦1.07 billion to fund free healthcare services for 89,232 poor and vulnerable people across 147 wards.
The funds, which will be managed by the Zamfara State Health Contributory Management Agency (ZAMCHEMA), are aimed at closing the gap in healthcare access for those most in need — children, orphans, pregnant women, the elderly, people with disabilities, and others living in poverty.
The commitment was made at a two-day advocacy meeting in Birnin Kebbi, where UNICEF and local government leaders agreed on ways to mobilize resources to strengthen healthcare for the informal sector.
According to a communiqué signed by the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Engr. Garba Ahmad Garba Yandi; ALGON Chairman, Samaila Hussani Moriki; and UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Sokoto, Michael Juma, the beneficiaries will be selected from the National Social Register. This ensures that only the poorest and most vulnerable are reached.
“This initiative is about giving dignity back to people who have been excluded for too long,” one of the officials said at the close of the meeting. “No woman should die in childbirth because she cannot afford care, and no child should be denied treatment simply because the parents are poor.”
Once the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is approved by the State Ministry of Justice and endorsed by Governor Dauda Lawal, the programme will take off, offering hope to thousands who have long lived without access to reliable healthcare.
For Zamfara’s most vulnerable, this is more than a policy decision — it could be the difference between life and death.
