Health stakeholders have called for stronger financing reforms and deeper digital health integration to improve maternal healthcare access in Kaduna State and accelerate Nigeria’s progress toward universal health coverage.
This formed the core of discussions at the Health Access 2025 Roundtable Dialogue on Health Financing and Digital Health Acceleration, organised by ACIOE Foundation with support from MSD for Mothers, in collaboration with the Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority (KADCHMA).
The dialogue reviewed progress on health financing initiatives in the state, assessed digital health deployment under the Nigeria Digital Health Initiative (NDHI), and examined gaps in policy and implementation. Participants also worked to co-develop strategies to expand insurance enrollment and improve digital access, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Speaking at the event on Wednesday in Kaduna, the State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma Ahmed, described the meeting as timely, noting its importance to Nigeria’s push toward universal health coverage.
She said that despite the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act and recent directives mandating broad insurance enrollment, less than 10 per cent of Nigerians are currently covered, leaving millions exposed to financial hardship from healthcare costs.
Ahmed noted that the NDHI is transforming digital health delivery by strengthening data systems and improving transparency. According to her, linking the digital initiative with innovative financing models would position Kaduna as a leader in digital health transformation.
“We must expand insurance access and digital inclusion to ensure every resident of Kaduna can access affordable, quality, and digitally-enabled healthcare,” she said.
In a presentation titled “Bridging the Health Financing and Digital Divide,” Ibukun Ajeigbe, Programme Manager at ACIOE Foundation, said the roundtable forms part of the Maternal Health Advocacy and Communication Project supported by MSD for Mothers and jointly implemented with Nigeria Health Watch.
Ajeigbe noted that Nigeria still records one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates due to financing gaps, workforce shortages, and implementation challenges. While the country now operates a unified “One Plan, One Budget, One Report” platform to coordinate maternal health efforts, funding limitations persist.
She said the foundation is partnering with private sector institutions, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, Bank of Industry, fintechs, and commercial banks, to explore innovative financing and expand non-traditional payment channels.
“Health is a business. If we can treat agriculture as a business, we must do the same for healthcare,” she said, adding that digital tools remain essential for accountability, patient-centered care and improved decision-making.
Ajeigbe reaffirmed ACIOE Foundation’s focus on empowering women and young people through reproductive health, education, gender inclusion and WASH interventions.
She explained that investments from MSD for Mothers have previously supported digital health and maternal care innovations through organisations such as mDoc, LifeBank, Smile for Mothers, FORMom and Project AISHA. However, she stressed that more financing and digital integration are needed to eliminate preventable maternal deaths.
At the end of the session, stakeholders committed to developing bank-supported financing frameworks, strengthening digital infrastructure and aligning strategies to expand health insurance coverage and accelerate the implementation of the NDHI in Kaduna.
The Director-General of KADCHMA, Mr Hassan Abubakar, said Kaduna has already onboarded over two million residents under its financial inclusion law signed by Gov. Uba Sani, creating a strong base for digital enrollment into the state’s health insurance scheme.
He said collaboration with fintechs and ICT partners would make it easier for residents—especially those in informal sectors or remote areas—to enroll and access affordable care.
“Today’s engagement is about leveraging technology so that people can access health insurance wherever they are. This will expand coverage and reduce barriers to affordable care,” he said.
Representatives from the Office of the Deputy Governor, Zenith Bank, Wema Bank, Polaris Bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria and other stakeholders participated in discussions on financing models to support primary healthcare delivery and scale insurance enrollment in Kaduna and beyond.