The Ondo State Contributory Health Commission has revealed that its health equity scheme has successfully supported the birth of over 15,585 babies since its launch.
Established in 2022 under the leadership of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, the scheme was created to provide essential healthcare services to pregnant women and children under five, with a focus on reducing maternal mortality rates in the state.
The Director-General of the commission, Abiodun Oyeneyin, made this announcement during the flag-off ceremony of the Orange Health Insurance Scheme, aimed at extending healthcare coverage to the informal sector in Ondo State.
He stated, “Over 15,585 babies, among which are 380 twins, 10 triplets, and two quadruplets all delivered under the state equity scheme – the Abiyamo Scheme since inception till date. They too now have the opportunity to aspire to be presidents, governors, senators, ministers, doctors, engineers, teachers, and lawyers among others.
“The widows, elderly, people with disabilities, the vulnerable women of reproductive age group and children under five years as well as sickle cell warriors who are all beneficiaries of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund Programme continue to have access to qualitative healthcare services across the 203 wards in the state.”
On the the insurance scheme, which was for the people in the informal sector, including artisans, market men and women, and transporters among others, Oyeneyin explained that the scheme would bring immense relief to countless families, reducing their financial burden and improve their overall health and well-being.
He disclosed that a sum of N18,000 was the minimum annual premium for the scheme.
“The premium shall be affordable (from N18,000 per annum) and the mode of payment shall be flexible as most of those in the informal sector earn their wages on a daily basis.
“A robust benefits package that includes medical services, surgical services, optical services, dental services, obstetrics and gynaecology, physiotherapy, supply of drugs and medications, laboratory and imaging have been put together to cater for the needs of our people under the scheme,” the DG explained.
He commended the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for his support and commitment to the scheme and for putting health on the front burner of his programmes.
Flagging off the health insurance scheme, Governor Aiyedatiwa said his administration would not relent in its commitment towards ensuring access to affordable healthcare for all residents of the state.
The governor, who emphasised the importance of collective efforts to improve healthcare accessibility and affordability, noted that health was a fundamental human right and a critical indicator of human development.
He said, “I am delighted that we have been able to create a sustainable source of funding that lowers the financial barriers to healthcare for our residents. It is on this premise that I stand to usher in a breath of fresh air in our healthcare delivery system with the Orange Health Insurance Scheme, designed for those in the informal sector.
“Our painstakingly conceptualized vision as an administration rightly accommodates qualitative and accessible healthcare delivery in order to fulfil the Sustainable Development Goals 3.8 that pointedly strive to achieve the global theme of Universal Health Coverage. Our administration once again has demonstrated political will in line with the need to attain UHC.”
