By: Mukhtar Yahaya Shehu
The Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA) has unveiled the AKY Health Champions Initiative, a strategic intervention designed to strengthen health financing, enhance service delivery, and deepen community engagement across Kano State. The initiative aligns with His Excellency Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s Inclusive Healthcare Policy, which seeks to expand access to quality and affordable healthcare for all residents of the State.
The programme was approved and implemented under the directive of the Executive Secretary of KSCHMA, Dr. Rahila Aliyu Muktar, building on the successful roll-out of the National Health Fellows Programme initiated by the Federal Government in 2025. The programme targets young professionals equipped with leadership, technical, and policy skills to support health system strengthening and sustainability.
Under this framework, the AKY Health Champions will serve as ad-hoc KSCHMA Liaison Officers across all 44 Local Government Areas of the State. In this capacity, they will act as the critical link between KSCHMA, healthcare providers, local government authorities, community structures, and beneficiaries.
Their responsibilities include supporting community sensitization and enrollment activities, identifying and escalating local healthcare needs, facilitating the prompt resolution of complaints, and strengthening public trust and acceptance of the Kano State Contributory Healthcare Scheme. Their presence at the grassroots level will also enhance data collection, verification, monitoring, and reporting, while promoting transparency, accountability, and quality assurance in scheme implementation.
In a statement signed by public relations officer KSCHMA Aminu Ahmad Turaki said this is in line with its commitment to excellence, KSCHMA will build the capacity of the AKY Health Champions to meet global best practices in health service delivery, stakeholder engagement, and health financing management, ensuring they are equipped with modern skills and competencies that meet international standards.
Speaking on the initiative, Dr. Rahila Aliyu Muktar noted that deploying the fellows as ad-hoc Liaison Officers across all LGAs will significantly strengthen coordination, responsiveness, and service delivery outcomes, while directly supporting Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s Inclusive Healthcare Agenda.
KSCHMA remains committed to ensuring that the National Health Fellows are meaningfully engaged in high-impact areas that enhance service delivery and system performance, advance universal health coverage, and build a skilled and responsive health workforce for Kano State.
KSCHMA cares: One Voice, One Health, One Future.
