The Kaduna state government on Thursday, February 5, announced plans to integrate mental health services into the state’s basic insurance package.
The initiative, launched at the Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority (KADCHMA) conference hall, is aimed at expanding access to care through the contributory health insurance system.
It is expected to embed mental healthcare within the state’s primary healthcare framework, positioning Kaduna as the first state to formally incorporate such services into its insurance-backed basic health package.
Speaking at the inauguration on behalf of the commissioner for health, Abubakar Hassan, the director-general of KADCHMA, said the reform stems from the 2025 Kaduna state mental health law and reflects a shift towards community-based service delivery.
“Through our 23 centres of excellence, one in each local government area, we are bringing mental healthcare closer to the people, ensuring it is accessible, affordable, and covered under the state insurance scheme,” Hassan said.
The government said the integration is part of broader efforts to expand universal health coverage and ensure healthcare delivery becomes more comprehensive and responsive to mental health needs across the state.
Also speaking, Hajia Nafisat, the director of family health at the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board (SPHCB), said primary healthcare facilities would play a critical role in early identification and treatment of mental health conditions.
She noted that strengthening primary health centres would help reduce stigma and improve timely intervention for conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders.
The newly inaugurated committee, chaired by Mohammed Gidado and supported by the Kaduna State Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (KADSAMHSA), has been given four weeks to outline the benefit package for mental health services, develop a sustainable costing framework, and recommend infrastructure upgrades needed to support implementation.
The collaboration among KADSAMHSA, SPHCB, and KADCHMA is designed to ensure technical leadership, effective service delivery, and sustainable financing for the reform.
The government added that the initiative aims to close the wide treatment gap in mental healthcare while preventing families from falling into poverty due to mental health-related costs.
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