By Fisayo Akinduro, Osogbo

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Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola on Thursday, flagged off the distribution of Osun Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS) beneficiaries’ card to 69,273 enrollees.
This, according to Oyetola, is both historic and symbolic, adding that it marks a watershed in his administration’s quest for ensuring that nobody is left behind in accessing qualitative health care.
Oyetola, who lauded the leadership of OHIS for the sterling performance of the Agency since commencing operation, said his administration was particular about engineering the Osun Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS) with a view to making all citizens have access to better healthcare.
“To demonstrate this commitment, we released the sum of N150million as take-off grant for the Agency and over N477million as equity grant meant for the premium for the poor, the needy and the vulnerable within our first year in office
“We also established the OHIS Drug Distribution Centre which is now supplying medicines and consumables to 16 OHIS-accredited government secondary health facilities across the State to put an end to the perennial out-of-stock syndrome of medicines in government secondary healthcare facilities for health insurance enrollees.
“With about 300,000 residents already enlisted on the State Social Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS) and 195,565 successfully enrolled and accessing care under the Scheme.”
Oyetola also described the programme as one that is strategically linked with other social intervention programmes of his administration, part of which is the flagship Osun Food Support Scheme, which supports 30,000 vulnerable persons in the state on a monthly basis.
The governor announced plans to roll out other support programmes for the elderly and widows in Osun.
In his remark, the Timi of Ede, Oba (Dr) Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, commended Oyetola for keeping his promises to the people, adding that it is both a mark of responsible leadership and true democracy.
The Special Adviser on Public Health, Dr. Siji Olamiju, described the activities of Osun Health Insurance Agency as laudable and a proof of Governor Oyetola’s commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of citizens..