Kemi Olatunde

The need for stakeholders to strive towards ensuring the sustainability of the health insurance scheme in Ondo State has been emphasised.

Secretary to the Ondo State Government, Dr Taiwo Fasoranti, stated this during a three-day informal sector dissemination and vulnerable population programme strategy workshop in Akure on Wednesday.

According to him, the state Governor, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has prioritised the health sector through various forms of support, especially to the State Contributory Health Commission (ODCHC), which he said has made concerted efforts to ensure that people benefit significantly from the scheme.

Represented by Mr Dele Akinnagbe, he urged decision-makers to adopt the recommendations from the event for proper implementation.

In his remarks, Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Prof. Simidele Odimayo, noted that over 82,000 residents of the state are currently benefiting from the Basic Health Care Provision Fund Programme (Ilera Loro), adding that the governor is providing the necessary support to improve the health sector.

He commended the commission’s efforts in ensuring residents enjoy quality service delivery, stating that “with ODCHC, ailments and diseases have been prevented.”

He called for stakeholders’ collaboration to sustain the scheme, charging the commission and CHAI to continue delivering the best services to residents.

Director-General of ODCHC, Dr Abiodun Oyeneyin, described health insurance as a means to reduce out-of-pocket payments for medical bills, noting that it provides quality healthcare for residents.

According to him, the commission operates several schemes, including the Orange Health Insurance Scheme (ORANGHIS) for both formal and informal sectors, the Basic Health Care Provision Fund Programme (BHCPFP), and the Abiyamo Maternal and Child Health Scheme.

Oyeneyin explained that the commission carries out medical outreaches, stating that in 2024, it conducted free medical checks for 2,564 people, saying “the gesture aims at creating awareness of silent killer diseases and, in some cases, early detection of warning signs.”

He revealed that over N21 million has been spent on medical assistance programmes, noting that N314,197,163 has been paid as fee-for-service.

He revealed that over 536 surgeries have been carried out in over two years since the commencement of the informal sector ORANGHIS.

He assured residents of the commission’s commitment to ensuring the best service delivery from healthcare providers in the state.

In his goodwill message, the State Lead of CHAI in Ondo, Mr Ayedun Olamide, while bringing greetings from the group’s Country Director, Dr Olufunke Fasawe, and Programme Lead, Abuja Office, Adekemi Gbolade, stated that CHAI, with funding from Global Affairs Canada (GAC), has provided financial and technical support for the implementation of the project, saying, “This is titled: Expanding Health Insurance to Improve Sexual and Reproductive Health Outcomes in Nigeria.”

According to him, the project aims to enhance health organisation management and improve service delivery, among other objectives.

He noted that at the service delivery level, the group works in 103 health facilities across nine local government areas, where he said 24,255 pregnant women and children under five have been enrolled.

He revealed that the group leverages ODCHC-accredited facilities to identify pregnant women and under-five children for enrolment.