Gombe State’s Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (GoHealth) has announced intentions to offer health insurance for Tsangaya and Almajiri children throughout the state.
This initiative aligns with Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s comprehensive strategy for Almajiri education in the region.
Dr. Abubakar Musa, the Team Lead of the Agency, disclosed this during a visit by Sayyada Amina Sheikh Dahiru, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Tsangaya and Almajiri Education.
“This visit is very timely as the Agency is about to embark on the Cohort-4 enrollment and revalidation of beneficiaries of our equity programme for the poor and vulnerable.”
According to him, “There are three entry points for the GoHealth equity programme, that is, the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), where we currently have over 50,000 beneficiaries; there is also the state equity programme, where we have been able to enroll not fewer than 1,000 persons.
“Additionally, we also have the donor funded equity programme where individuals and organisations can come in to sponsor beneficiaries.”
Recently, we are working alongside the UNICEF Zero dose initiative to register a total of 10,000 beneficiaries, including children under the age of 5 and their caretakers. Abubakar emphasized the benefits that Almajiri students can receive from the Agency’s equity program designed for disadvantaged individuals.
While acknowledging the limitations in accommodating the entire Almajiri population, he expressed a commitment to start with pupils from the Almajiri model schools set up by the government in all 11 local government areas. There are plans to expand the program’s reach in the future.
The Special Adviser overseeing Tsangaya and Almajiri Education, Sayyada Amina Shiekh Dahiru Bauchi, assured that the suggestions from the Team Lead would be taken seriously. This pioneering initiative in the country is expected to serve as a model for other states.
Under Inuwa Yahaya’s leadership, reforms have been introduced to improve the welfare of Almajiri children. This includes establishing at least one Almajiri model school in each local government area and collaborating with the National Identity Management Commission to provide special identification cards for Almajiri children.
 has announced intentions to offer health insurance for Tsangaya and Almajiri children throughout the state.){kind=link}