The Oyo State Government has announced plans to enrol 10,000 primary school pupils in its health insurance scheme. This initiative aims to ease the financial burden of medical care on parents and ensure broader healthcare coverage for children.
The announcement was made by Dr. Sola Akande, Executive Secretary of the Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYHIA), during a town hall meeting on maternal health services organized by the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of the Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan.
Dr. Akande highlighted the transformative impact of Governor Seyi Makinde’s vision for healthcare in the state, stating, “Residents should no longer bother about the cost of treatment for any ailment once they are enrolled in the programme.”
He underscored the success of the insurance scheme with examples, noting:
“Recently, the agency paid about N8 million for the open-heart surgery of one enrollee at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). Also, the cost of caesarean sections for about 200 women was covered. This is the power of insurance and the vision of Governor Seyi Makinde.”
Dr. Akande urged residents to take advantage of primary healthcare centers and register for the insurance program, emphasizing its life-changing benefits:
“I do get messages on a daily basis from people who want to appreciate me for the treatment they received because they never thought they could access such care.”
Earlier, Reverend Father Charles Ajibaye, Director of JDPC, pointed out the persistent high maternal mortality rate in Nigeria. He called on both state and federal governments to intensify efforts to reduce this rate, saying, “We will continue to draw attention to issues affecting the public so that urgent steps can be taken to address them.”
This initiative reflects Oyo State commitment to accessible healthcare and marks a major stride in ensuring that every child, regardless of background, can receive timely and quality medical care.
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