Flag-off of BHCPF enrolment for 184,105 beneficiaries

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is with immense pride and gratitude that I stand before you today to officially flag off the enrollment of 184,105 beneficiaries into the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) across all 361 wards of Katsina State. This is not just a ceremony—it is a bold step toward ensuring that healthcare becomes a right, not a privilege, for every citizen of our dear state.

Over the past years, Katsina has emerged as a model of excellence in health financing and delivery. Our Katsina State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KTSCHMA) has twice been recognized nationally as the Best State Health Insurance Agency of the Year (2024 and 2025). We have hosted peer review visits from seven states, eager to learn from our innovations.

Today, I am proud to announce that our total enrollees have grown from 355,000 in 2023 to 583,460 in 2026—a remarkable increase of 64% in just three years. This achievement reflects our determination to expand access and ensure that no one is left behind.

We have invested deliberately and strategically:

Revitalizing two primary healthcare centers per ward.

Establishing a state-of-the-art imaging center, cancer treatment center, and dialysis facilities.

Upgrading many comprehensive Health centers into general hospitals.

Enrolling 98% of state and local government employees,

At the inception of this administration, I directed the Agency to enroll all state retirees, Hisbah corps, community watch corps, and persons with disabilities into free health insurance, granting them seamless access to quality healthcare services and robust financial risk protection. To further scale up health insurance coverage in Katsina State, enrollment into the health insurance scheme is now a mandatory prerequisite for all state government empowerment programs. This strategic link ensures that beneficiaries are shielded from catastrophic out-of-pocket health expenditures that could otherwise jeopardize their businesses. To enforce this, an Executive Memo will be issued immediately to ensure strict compliance across all ministries and agencies, reinforcing that health insurance is mandatory in Katsina State. This policy directly aligns our state goals with the Presidential Mandate to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.

Through KTSCHMA, we have strengthened the Drugs and Medical Supplies Agency, minimise drug stock-outs, and ensured accountability by channeling 50% of capitation directly into facility wallets domiciled at the DMSA. This strategy has attracted national and international accolades, with countries such as Kenya adopting our funds flow model.

Our robust ICT platform now allows real-time tracking of enrollees, ensuring transparency and efficiency in service delivery. Recently, we paid ₦243 million as counterpart funding for the BHCPF matching grant, reaffirming our commitment to sustainable healthcare financing.

At this point, I must pause to appreciate the Director General of KTSCHMA, Mohammed Safana, whose dedication, experience, and technocratic leadership have earned him the confidence of his peers nationwide as Chairman of the Forum of CEOs of State Social Health Insurance Agencies. His vision has guided this agency to excellence. I also commend the staff, management team and governing board of KTSCHMA, whose tireless efforts have made these achievements possible. Together, they have built a system that is transparent, accountable, and impactful.

As we flag off this enrollment today, we are not only expanding coverage but also safeguarding the future. In line with the resolutions of the recent National Health Summit, Katsina State has commenced the process of establishing a Sustainable Health Financing Model to protect and sustain these investments for generations to come.

Distinguished guests, the journey to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is challenging, but it is achievable. With collaboration, innovation, and accountability, we will ensure that every citizen of Katsina has access to quality healthcare.

On behalf of the government and people of Katsina State, I thank you all for joining us in this historic moment. Together, let us continue to build a healthier, stronger, and more prosperous Katsina.

God bless Katsina State. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.