Headlines
BHCPF: WDCs, PWDs laud Kano Govt for Increasing the number of beneficiaries

Nasiru Yusuf
The leadership of Ward Development Committees and People with Disabilities have commended Kano state government for increasing the number of beneficiaries of the basic healthcare provision fund (BHCPF).

KANO FOCUS reports that the state chairman of Ward Development Committee (WDC) Malam Bashir Adamu Jigirya Secretary General of Nigeria Association of the Blind Kano state chapter, Comrade Abdralrazak Ado Zango, made the commendation in an interview with journalists at PERL/ECP office.
Jigirya commended Kano state government for its prompt response to their demand saying that BHCPF has improved the health of the vulnerable and people with special needs.

Malam Bashir Adamu Jigirya
He however, raised concern on how National Identification Number (NIN) submission hindered some beneficiaries from accessing BHCPF services citing new born babies as example.
Also speaking Comrade Abdralrazak Ado Zango, explained that they advocated for the increment due to the fact that, despite the total number of 3,474 forms allocated to the 9 clusters of PWD, leprosy survivors are yet to be enrolled into the BHCPF scheme because of finger print capture.

Comrade Abdralrazak Ado Zango
He maintained that, discrimination against people with special needs,choice of health facilities, failure to refer spinal cord injury patients to facilities, are some of the challenges bedeviling the scheme.
“We are calling in KSCHMA to ensure continuous orientation of health workers to change their attitudes towards PWDs,” Zango appealed.

BHCPF enrollment
It would be recalled that Kano state Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA), has approved the enrollment of more beneficiaries of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), to promote inclusive access to health services.
The approval was sequel to an advocacy letter, signed by coalition of citizens groups which comprises of CSOs, PWDs, WDCs dated August 23, 2022, supported by PERL/ECP, addressed to the Executive Secretary Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA) Dr. Halima Mijinyawa.

BHCPF enrollment
The advocacy centred around increase in number of beneficiaries, to reduce out of pocket expenditure to access health care services.
Similarly, another letter was sent to the Kano state ministry of finance by the group, seeking for the status of 1% consolidated Revenue fund (CRF), to address vulnerable package for contributory beneficiaries.
A circular obtained by KANO FOCUS showed approval of increasing the number of people living with special needs and vulnerable groups, into the Programme across the forty four local government areas.

BHCPF enrollment
Lafiya programme and PERL/ECP are providing technical support to Kano State Led Accountability Mechanism (KanSLAM) and Ward Development Committees (WDCs) towards successful implementation of BHCPF.
The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) scheme.
The BHCPF is a health intervention scheme established under National Health Act (2014) to provide basic health care services to poor and vulnerable.
It is to reduce maternal mortality rate by 31% (from 576 to 400 per 100,000 live births), neo maternal rate by 33% (from 39 to 26 per 1,000 live births) with 50% of BHCPF.
The purpose of the BHCPF is to ensure the provision of basic health care package of health services to all Nigerians through National Health Insurance Scheme NHIS and state Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency KSCHMA.
Another purpose of the programme is “Strengthening the Primary Health Care (PHC) system through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) with 45% of BHCPF.

Headlines
We’ve trained over 8,000 primary school teachers in Kano – PLANE

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria, PLANE, has revealed that it has trained over 8,000 primary school teachers in Kano.
KANO FOCUS reports that the PLANE’s State Team Lead, Malam Umar Lawan, revealed this during a presentation at the Kano State Quarterly Review Meeting Agenda, held in Kano on Tuesday.
Represented by State Reform Facilitator Umma Muhammad Rakana, the State Team Lead said the training was conducted in collaboration with State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB).


Umma Muhammad Rakana
He added that PLANE had coordinated book and other learning materials distribution at the classroom level across the 532 schools in Kano state.
He said the distribution was to ensure every child own learning materials.
According to him, PLANE had supported 35 school-based management committees that sensitized stakeholders on book care and maintenance, including parents, SBMC, PTA chairmen, LGEA staff, community leaders, religious leaders, and youth groups.
Some of them, according to him, supported the programme by donating 2 hectares of land in Kafinwachiwaya, Takai Local Government area for the construction of 2 classrooms, and 2 bundles of zinc sheets.
“There were also various cash donations for bricks, sand, bags of cement ement, and costs for construction was also donated.“PLANE also organized
Reading Festivals in Minjibir and Gabasawa LGAs to promote reading culture amongst pupils, received financial donations from stakeholders, and LGEAs agreed to make the festival an annual event.

Cross section of critical stakeholders at the event
In the presentation, Lawan suggested that more teachers need to be employed to bridge the gaps of inadequate teachers in some schools, especially hard-to-reach areas.
He also advised for provision of other learning materials like pencils and exercise books by parent, noting that “this will further improve teaching and learning and better learning outcome for pupils.

Cross section of critical stakeholders at the meeting
“More school support visit needs to be conducted to ensure lesson delivery by teachers,” he said.
He said the purpose of the meeting was to give update on key activities conducted in the PLANE programmes in the last quarter, adding that the review would look at successes and challenges in order to find the way forward.
Earlier in a remark, the Commissioner for Education, Haruna Doguwa represented by Malam Munzali Mustapha commended the stakeholders for the meeting, which according to him, it was crucial to education sector.

Malam Munzali Mustapha

Headlines
Gov. Yusuf assigns Head of Service to supervise SSG’s office

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Governor of Kano State Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf has directed the Head of Civil Service Abdullahi Musa to supervise the office of the Secretary to the Kano State Government.
KANO FOCUS reports that this was contained in a statement issued by Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the spokesperson to the Governor in the early hours of Thursday.
The appointment was as a result of medical vacation taken by the SSG Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi who flew out of the country for medical treatment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In a letter signed by the Chief of Staff to the Governor Shehu Wada Sagagi, the Head of Service is to provide a supervisory role pending the return of the SSG in the next few weeks.

Headlines
Gov. Yusuf promotes CPS to DG, appoints other heads of agencies

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf has approved the elevation of his official spokesperson Mr. Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa from Chief Press Secretary to Director General, Media and Publicity.
KANO FOCUS reports that the elevation was contained in a statement issued by Aliyu Yusuf, Director Public Enlightenment, Kano State Government House, in the early hours of Thursday.
According to the statement the appointment is with immediate effect.
The statement also announced the appointment of other political office holders to occupy various positions as follows:

“Hon. Rabi’u Saleh Gwarzo, Permanent Commissioner I SUBEB , Engr. Sarki Ahmad, Director General, Rural Access and Mobility Project.
“Hon. Surajo Imam Dala, Director General, Cottage Trade and Street Hawking.
“Dr. Dahiru Saleh Muhammad, Executive Secretary, Science and Technical Schools Board.
“Abubakar Adamu Rano, Deputy Managing Director, Radio Kano
“Hajiya Hauwa Isah Ibrahim, Deputy Managing Director, ARTV.
“Dr. Gaddafi Sani Shehu, Deputy Managing Director, Kano Hydro Electricity Development Company (KHEDCO).”
While congratulating the new appointees, the Governor directed them to assume their new roles immediately.
