By Kemi Olatunde
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No fewer than 213,641 residents have been enrolled into the various health insurance schemes in operation in Ondo State in four years.
Director-General, Ondo State Contributory Health Commission, Dr. Abiodun Oyeneyin revealed this at the sensitisation programme for Permanent Secretaries and Accounting officers on Orange Health Insurance Scheme (ORANGHIS) in Akure, yesterday.
Describing ORANGHIS as the scheme that provides financial risk protection and significantly reduces Out-of-Pocket Expenditure on healthcare, Oyeneyin said the commission has enrolled 95,791 beneficiaries for ORANGHIS comprising of 36,412 public servants and 59,379 dependants who according to him have been allocated to their chosen hospitals.
He explained that registered enrollees have access to care noting that Outpatient care, admissions, blood transfusion, deliveries, Caesarean sections and surgeries are some of the services that have been provided for them at no cost at the point of service delivery.
He explained that under flagship product of the commission, ABIYAMO Scheme 35,200 pregnant women and children under 5 years have benefitted from the scheme, noting that over 10,665 babies (275 Twins, 9 Triplets and two quadruplets) have been delivered with 2,932 by Caesarean sections at no cost for covered services.
He said that the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund Programme (Ilera-Loro Scheme) which is designed for widows, elderly, people with disabilities, women of reproductive age group and children under five kicked off in October 2021, adding that it has recorded 20,650 beneficiaries who are accessing care in the 195 PHCs across the state saying “plans are in place to enroll additional 10,000 beneficiaries to the scheme very soon.”
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Awolowo Ajaka lauded the feedback on ORANGHIS, adding that solution would be proffered to its challenges.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Prof. Dayo Faduyile while appreciating the governor lauded the civil service for its belief in the vision of government.
Consultant to the Governor on Health, Dr. Funsho Anih thanked the public servants for their cooperation for ORANGHIS adding that it has brought development to the health sector.
Representative of the Head of Service, Pharm. (Mrs) Folukemi Aladenola said that ORANGHIS has been an encouragement to civil servants lauding the governor for the initiative.
Administrative Secretary, Ondo State Hospitals’ Management Board, Dr. Bobola Babatola while congratulating public servants for being among first set of beneficiaries of ORANGHIS noted that it has brought tremendous improvement to secondary facilities in the state.
He thanked the Governor for putting in place sustainable health service delivery stating that the percentage coverage in health insurance in the state has recorded triple percentage to what it used to be in 2019.
Permanent Secretary, office of Establishment, Mrs Dare Atunse called on the commission to incorporate all other sectors into the scheme.
