By Mary Taye
Over one million residents of Ondo State are being targeted for enrollment into the health insurance scheme by the year 2027; the Director-General of the State Contributory Health Commission (ODCHC), Dr. Abiodun Oyeneyin has announced.
Dr Oyeneyin made this known in Akure on Tuesday at a press conference tagged; “Ondo State Contributory Health Commission six years of transforming health care: Advancing Universal Health Coverage in Ondo State”.
According to the DG, the ambitious target is to further ensure that more people of the state have access to quality and affordable health care delivery through the health insurance under the State Contributory Health Commission (ODCHC).
He pointed out that the Commission’s vision was to ensure residents have access to quality healthcare services without experiencing financial hardship; “this objective is rooted in the belief that healthcare is a fundamental right and should not be limited by economic status.
“These include the Abiyamo Maternal and Child Health Insurance Scheme (Abiyamo Scheme), designed for pregnant women and children; the Basic Healthcare Provision Programme (Ilera-loro Scheme), which targets vulnerable populations; and the Orange Health Insurance Scheme (ORANGHIS), which caters to both the formal and informal sectors of the state.”
On its achievements in six years, Dr Oyeneyin said; “Abiyamo Scheme has recorded over 55,557 beneficiaries (pregnant women and children below 5 years of age). Over 18,305 babies have been delivered with 5,107 being through Cesarean section. We have 436 twins, 11 triplets and 2 quadruplets.
“From October 2021, we have enrolled 82,662 Vulnerables across 203 wards in the 18 local government areas of the state under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund Programme (BHCPFP ‘Ilera Loro’ Scheme).
“The vulnerable consists of Widows, Elderly, Women of reproductive age group and children under 5 years. Notably, we have covered 203 Orphans, 2517 people with disabilities and 404 Sickle cell warriors. Medical services including renal dialysis (18 Beneficiaries currently have regular sessions) have been provided with over 1368 intermediate and major surgeries performed so far.
“Insurance Scheme (ORANGHIS), till date, 103,738, enrollees (Public servants and their dependants) currently have access to medical care in their chosen hospitals and over 1368 surgeries have been performed in less than 3 years,” Dr Oyeneyin said.
He applauded Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for his commitment to healthcare transformation, exemplified by the “OUR EASE” mantra, which he said has propelled ODCHC to new heights, adding that the inauguration of ORANGHIS for the informal sector and support for infrastructure upgrades is a testament to unimaginable transformation he wishes to bring to the state.
While appealing to residents to key into informal sector ORANGHIS to prevent financial hardship while seeking qualitative healthcare services, he noted that under the hospital intervention programme, five providers including UNIMETHC Akure (Now FUTA Teaching Hospital), UNIMEDTHC Laje; State Specialist Hospital, Ondo; State Specialist Hospital, Okitipupa; and State Specialist Hospital, Akure have state -of -the -art health insurance buildings.
He assured of partnership with the State Drug and Health Commodities Management Agency to ensure affordable, quality drugs and supporting the hospitals through its corporate social responsibility, adding that “our 24/7 Contact Center shall go live effective from July 1,2025 to provide support services to enrollees.
“Hospital Intervention programme shall be extended to all our government hospital across the 18 Local Government areas of the state,” he said.
In an address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Prof. Simidele Odimayo who noted that the commission has greatly impacted on the state, an accomplishment the government is proud of.
Odimayo who reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to the health and well-being of citizens stated that government has strengthened the State Drug and Health Commodities Management Agency to ensure the availability of qualitative drugs, adding that the state emergency services and ambulance services will soon begin operation for effective health care delivery.
He urged the residents to support government to enjoy good governance, assuring that they make meaningful contributions to improve the scheme.
The Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (OSPHCDA), Dr. Francis Akanbiemu and other stakeholders who delivered goodwill messages, commended the Commission for removing financial barrier from accessing qualitative health care in the state.
