Oyo State Government says it has enrolled 45,000 poor and vulnerable people under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) in the state.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun, made this known at the launch of the programme on Friday at the Aafin Primary Healthcare Centre in Oyo, Atiba Local Government area.
Adeosun said that this was part of Gov. Seyi Makinde-led administration’s efforts to provide free medical services for the people.
She said the vision of the state government was to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for all residents of the state where no one was left behind in accessing healthcare.
Adeosun extolled the state government for availing the residents of the state the opportunity under the BHCPF scheme.
She enjoined the enrollees to take advantage of the opportunity under access to care scheme without paying out of pocket.
The SSG performed the symbolic distribution of BHCPF ID cards to the enrollees.
She reiterated the commitment of Makinde’s administration to achieving UHC.
Also, Dr Sola Akande, the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Health Insurance Agency, (OYSHIA), said, “Oyo State is about to witness the final push toward Universal Healthcare in Oyo State and Nigeria at large.”
Akande, said at the official flag-off ceremonies of access to care under BHCPF, that the Federal Government, through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), has made available a total amount of N450 million in the first tranche and N264 million in the second tranche for enrollment of 37, 500 lives.
He, however, announced that through the innovation of the agency, the same amount of money would be used to enroll 45,000 residents of the state into the scheme.
The Secretary to the State Government also assured successful enrollees that they could access care without paying out-of-pocket through the ID card issued to them by the agency.
The Basic Healthcare Provision Fund’s primary objective is to help achieve Universal Health Coverage and enhance access to primary healthcare services for Oyo State citizens, especially the poor and the vulnerable, women, children under five and children in orphanages.
Present at the flag-off ceremony were the Oyomesi led by High Chief Yusuf Ayoola, the Oosorun of Oyo; the General Manager, NHIA, Lagos office, Mr Olufemi Akingbade; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Adesoji Adeyanju; the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Muyideen Olatunji, among others.
As the state flagged off access to care, under BHCPF, the Oyo State Health Insurance Agency have empaneled 22,018 lives into 127 PHC’s across 33 LGAs.
It has also paid capitation into all of these facilities for effective healthcare service delivery to enrollees.