The Oyo State Health Insurance Agency, OSHIA, has taken its health insurance to primary schools in the state Free of Charge to reduce out-of-pocket expenses and ensure pupils learn in good health and sound mind.
The Deputy Governor, Oyo State, Barrister Adebayo Lawal, who made the call at the official lunch of the programme in Ibadan on Thursday February 28th, noted that, as it stands, OSHIA captured very few schools, but the state is going to about 10,000 pupils within a very short time, urging the agency to double its efforts to capture the rest of the public schools in the State.
” We have five major zones, 11 Local Governments Area have been captured through this current exercise and so the other Zones should be captured, Bashorun, Ogbomosho, Ibarapa, Okeogun, among others.
The Deputy Governor, commended UNICEF, for its doggedness saying, for decades, UNICEF has been supporting public primary schools and even secondary schools, not only in the area of health but also in education.
“Even children who have Malaria can be treated, that’s why I’m commending you ” he stressed
Delivering a goodwill message the Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office Ms. Celine Lafoucriere, said, she was thrilled to celebrate the launch of the Oyo State Public Primary School Pupils Health Insurance Scheme, nothing that, Access to affordable, quality healthcare is a fundamental right for every child.
” The initiative reinforces collective commitment to universal health coverage, ensuring that no child faces financial obstacles to accessing healthcare “.
She explained that, Universal health coverage is more than a healthcare goal—it’s a social and economic necessity, noting that, when children have access to healthcare, they can focus on education, grow into productive adults, break the cycle of poverty, and contribute to the success of Oyo State and Nigeria.
UNICEF, ” equity is our guiding principle—ensuring equal opportunities for every child. This scheme exemplifies this by focusing on public primary school children, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
She explained further ” With 90 schools already enrolled across 18 LGAs, our goal is to ensure all 33 LGAs in Oyo state are covered, leaving no child behind, stressing that, adding that, UNICEF proudly supports this health insurance initiative, and we eagerly look forward to continued partnerships to grow the scheme further”.
Celine, ” Let today’s event be a rallying call for action—our commitment to ensuring every child in Oyo State has access to healthcare. UNICEF remains steadfast in supporting the government and communities toward universal health coverage “.
She Congratulates the Oyo State Government, the Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA) and all partners, urging to join hands in building a healthier, more inclusive, and equitable future for every child.
The Executive Secretary, OYSHIA, Dr. Olusola Akande stated that, the commencement of the scheme made it the 9th door created by OYSHIA leading to the same room of access to quality healthcare services by residents of Oyo State.
They are :
Conventional OYSHIA scheme, community Based health insurance scheme, pensioners and old peoples scheme, tertiary Students health insurance scheme, basic Health Care Provision Fund, adoption Model of which the Governor is the Chief, Diaspora contributory initiative, Safer health, safer oyo, and new Public primary school pupils insurance scheme.
Dr Akande states that, “the models have given access to quality healthcare services to over 250,000 residents of the state and had reduced their out of pocket expenditure to an average of 10 percent from the current rate of 75 percent “.
Dr Akande expressed joy that the purchasing power and quality of life of about
2.5 percent of the residents of the state has improved through the activities of OYSHIA.
” The statistics may look insignificant but it is a total departure from the stories of Yore. OYSHIA has stepped into the world of Johnny Walker” keep walking”, so we ensure there’s no day we didn’t take at least a step. Our reslove is innovate or die “. he averred
He listed major life saving or quality of life improving interventions that some of our enrollees enjoyed in the last one year:
to include, 261 cesarian section, 195 cataract surgeries, 147 myomectomies, 9 ORIF procedures,18 thyroidectomy, 12 laparotomy, 13 prostatectomy 1 open heart surgery.
Apart from, providing access to improved quality of healthcare, the Agency through payment of capitation to various accredited hospitals has contributed significantly to the effort of Oyo State government in repositioning our hospitals for better service delivery especially at the primary health care level.
Dr Akande told the gathering that, ” Oyo State Health Insurance Agency paid up to 735,366,023 as capitation to all accredited hospitals in 2024, noting that , through the heads of various hospitals have made significant headway in infrastructural upgrade of their facilities, procurement of essential tools and provision of drugs and consumables.
Enumerating the area of support from UNICEF
the new door being opened today, he stressed is focusing on providing access to healthcare for 10,000 public primary school pupils in the first instance. “This we have been able to achieve through immense support of UNICEF”.
In addition, through UNICEF support, the Agency has improved on the awareness campaign and increased the communities under CBHIS by 100 percent.