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Oyo State Government has enrolled 45,000 poor and vulnerable people under the basic health care provision fund (BHCPF) in the state.
This, according to the state government, was part of the Governor Seyi Makinde led administration’s efforts to provide free medical services for the people.
While launching the programme at the Aafin Primary Health Care Center, Oyo, on Friday, the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun, said the vision of the state government is to achieve universal healthcare coverage for all residents of the state and ensure that no one was left behind in accessing healthcare.
Adeosun extolled the state government for availing the residents of Oyo State the opportunity under the BHCPF scheme.
She enjoined the enrollees to take advantage of the opportunity to access quality healhtcare without paying out of their pockets.
The SSG subsequently performed the symbolic distribution of BHCPF ID cards to the enrollees.
Speaking, the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA), Dr. Sola Akande, said that the state is about to witness the final push towards universal health care in the country.
Akande stated that the Federal Government through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has made available the sum of N450 million in the first tranche and N264 million in the second tranche for enrollment of 37,500 people.
He, however, noted that through the innovation of the agency, the same amount of money will be used to enroll 45,000 residents of the state into the scheme.
The Executive Secretary assured successful enrollees that they can access care without paying out of pocket through the ID cards issued to them by the agency.
The BHCPF’s primary objective is to help achieve universal healthcare coverage and enhance access to primary health care services for Oyo State citizens, especially the poor and the vulnerable women, children under age five, and children in orphanages.
Those at the flag-off ceremony include the Oyomesi, led by High Chief Yusuf Akinade Ayoola, the Basorun of Oyo; General Manager, NHIA, Lagos office, Mr. Olufemi Akingbade; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Adesoji Adeyanju; Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Muyideen Olatunji among others.
As the access to care, under the BHCPF commences, Oyo State Health Insurance Agency has empaneled 22,018 lives into 127 PHC’s across 33 LGA’s and has paid capitation into all of these facilities for effective health care service delivery to enrollees.