The Osun State Government is set to conduct free eye tests for all students of Primary and Secondary Schools across the state through the Osun Health Insurance Agency (OSHIA).
OSHIA Executive Secretary, Dr Rasaq Akindele revealed this on Thursday while receiving the Popular Social Media Influencer, Omolola Fasakin, also known as ‘Mewolaka’ and members of the media team of the Governor led by Hon Hezekiah Oladele Bamiji, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media.
Akindele noted that the gesture will not only be limited to public schools but also extend to private schools adding that medications and glasses will be provided for students who needs it.
He maintained that the aim is to help improve the learning ability of students at primary and secondary school levels.
“I am happy to use this opportunity to inform you that Governor Adeleke has approved free eye tests for all pupils of primary schools and students of Secondary Schools in the state through the Osun Health Insurance Agency.
“The exercise will kick off any moment from now and it is not limited to public schools alone, private schools students will also benefit from the exercise.
“The goal is not only to test, but also provide medications as well as eye glasses for students who needs it. This will help to improve students learning ability”, he said.
Akindele noted that the total number of beneficiary is estimated at 345,000 students as given by the State Ministry of Education.
Speaking on the other achievements of Governor Adeleke in the Osun Health Insurance Agency, the Executive Secretary noted that through the Agency, Governor Adeleke has assisted 6 citizens of the state who needed kidney transplant, and 2 citizens who needed total hip replacement for free.
“Since the inception of this government, the Ademola Adeleke-led administration have assisted 6 citizens of the state who needed kidney transplant free of charge, and 2 others who needed total hip replacement.
“Before this administration came, our head office which was under construction was abandoned, the Governor released funds for us to complete it and in two months it was completed.
“For proper running of any organization, there should be a board, we only had a Board Chairman and the Governor approved a board for us which now include members.
“We also requested that we should buy medications and keep in the agency so that we don’t run out and we can always supply our hospitals and then take the money back gradually from our vendor subscribers, then Governor approved and thats the model that we currently operate”, he added.
In fulfillment of Governor Adeleke’s campaign promise to operate an all inclusive government irrespective of class, religion or political divide and his determination to deliver qualitative healthcare without hindrance to the people of Osun State, the Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke has directed the Osun Health Insurance Agency (OSHIA) to commence free enrollment of all Persons Living With Disabilities in the state’s health insurance scheme.
In the same vein, Governor Adeleke approves the procurement of aiding equipment needed for the respective Persons Living With Disabilities in order to make life more comfortable for them.
In line with this directive, the Executive Secretary of Osun Health Insurance Agency Dr. Rasaq Akindele has unveiled the time-table for the commencement of the free enrollment of all Persons Living With Disabilities and enjoined beneficiaries of this gesture of Mr. Governor to visit their respective Local Government Secretariats and Area Office, Modakeke, for free registration commencing from Monday 29th July, 2024.
The program is expected to run from Monday 29th July, 2024 till Thursday 8th August, 2024 covering all the nine (9) federal constituencies.
Dr. Akindele stressed that the enrollment of PWDs will give them the opportunity to have the necessary data and information about their medical condition and how best to offer them treatment.
You will recall that earlier in the year, the performing Governor, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, ordered the enrollment of all pensioners into the state insurance scheme for better healthcare delivery. This is another gesture by the government to demonstrate to the good people of our state that the government sincerely cares for their wellbeing.
The prevailing economic situation has given rise to a raging question about access to quality healthcare. Rising costs of normal day-to-day necessities like food and transportation mean that for many, there is not as much money left to take care of their health. And to compound the problem is the astronomical increase in the cost of drugs and medicare, putting a lot of people in dilemma on how to meet their healthcare needs.
Of course, this is a troubling situation and will most definitely trigger the wave of concerns that funding healthcare at a time like this has provoked. But looking broadly, especially in Osun state, there is an option available for the people to explore for qualitative healthcare. And this is not something complex or requiring much effort to do, yet, it is a definite answer to the question of accessing healthcare.
What could this be? I’m sure that would be the question raging your mind. But the the answer is in plain sight, although, only a few people pay attention to it. This is no other but the OHIS, a simple and comprehensive healthcare coverage for the people.
OHIS is a short form for the Osun Health Insurance Scheme, and in a real sense, it offers a lifetime opportunity to prospective subscribers to enjoy qualitative healthcare. OHIS was established in Osun state in 2018 and structured to avail individuals and families with a partner that shares the burden of their healthcare needs with them. Yes, you heard me right, a partner or maybe, a buddy that is tasked with getting you the healthcare needs you deserve.
The good thing about this partnership is that it is reliable, dependable, and extremely cheap. Yet, OHIS shares the substantial costs of funding your healthcare, totally eliminating the pressure of healthcare on subscribers. To put things in the right perspective, OHIS will bear the burden of at least 90% of your healthcare costs at any given time, while you pay for the balance 10%.
Let us, for instance, assume that the cost of a caesarian operation is N300,000, then what an active subscriber on the OHIS plan will be required to pay will not exceed N30,000 in any registered medical center while the OHIS pays the balance of N270,000. And this does not stop with medical bills, but the coverage of OHIS extends to the cost of drugs, which just like medical bills, will only cost subscribers 10% of the total cost.
This sounds incredible yet unbelievable. But this is just a minute of the extent of support that the OHIS avails its subscribers in the area of accessing qualitative healthcare. Once you are a subscriber, you are open to an unimaginable cover against the burdening financial cost required to get the best of healthcare.
The impressive thing about this is that the healthcare plan offered by the OHIS is all-encompassing, meaning that all strata of society can benefit from it and a wide range of health issues is covered. Whether you’re in the formal or the informal sector; educated or illiterate; the rich and the poor; fit or physically challenged, there is always a plan for you to enjoy a qualitative healthcare service alongside members of your family.
All that is required to unlock the immense benefits that the OHIS offers is to pick up a subscription by visiting any of its offices across Osun state or its headquarters in the State Secretariat, Osogbo. The subscription is structured to accommodate all social classes of people to ensure that no one is left behind. As an individual, you can enjoy the benefit of a qualitative healthcare service for a whole year at the sum of N12,066. Yes, you are not mistaken, with N12,066.00 you can enjoy an all-year-round healthcare service through the OHIS.
With N57,600, a family of six can get the benefit of good healthcare for a whole year on the family package. This means that the father, mother, and four biological children or legally adopted under the age of 18 years will be covered by the OHIS plan for one year that the subscription will last. Isn’t that incredible?
What the above simply pointed out is that, while maintaining your health could be costly, the OHIS is offering to share in the burden just to ensure you stay healthy. As an enrollee, you will no longer have to worry about how to handle the bill for your health needs or any of your family members included as a beneficiary for basic ailment, because the OHIS got you covered.
There is one aspect of OHIS that some may still not get. Through OHIS, corporate bodies, organizations, and wealthy individuals can support a lot of people in accessing qualitative healthcare services. All they need to do is to pay the premium for the targeted beneficiaries, and they will contribute to the healthy living of the people, which will improve economic activities.
Even the diasporans can explore the OHIS option to provide parents, siblings, relatives, and friends with the healthcare coverage that guarantees them of quality healthcare service at any point of need. It could be a form of empowerment or a safeguard from the pressure that comes from funding health challenges, but what is certain from the OHIS healthcare coverage subscription is that it is the surest bet to achieving good health without the burden of cost.
At the moment, the OHIS is in partnership with up to 432 healthcare facilities across Osun state. The list of healthcare facilities is comprised of 332 focal primary healthcare facilities, 17 public healthcare facilities inclusive of the University of Osun Teaching Hospital formerly known as LAUTECH, and 82 accredited private healthcare facilities. What this means is that wherever you are in Osun state, you will be able to access the services offered by the OHIS.
The Executive Secretary, Osun Health Insurance Agency (OSHIA), Dr Rasaq Akindele has said that the agency has begin processes to go and full automation adding that this will not only reduce the use of paper but also make operations easier for the agency.
Akindele further notes that the agency will also introduce a mobile application, which is in a bid to promote and enrol more residents into the health scheme, and in compliance with the global trends.
He made this known during the first quarter of the forum meeting held with the healthcare service providers in Osogbo on Friday adding that the mobile app will be an efficient tool in gathering of residents and information.
He said, “We are also going to launch OSHIA App, that you can download from Google store, Apple store, Playstore and all the rest and you can do registration on it, you can pay for your premium payment on it and the hospitals can manage on it. This will enable easy access to the services from anywhere without necessarily visiting the office.
“We are going to automate our system, so that we reduce transfer of paper and hardcopies. Where a lot of people are going to be able to do things on their own “, he further explained.
“We really working hard to get the informal sector, we are using all forms of publicity that we can, the Media even door to door, to let people know what benefits they stand from enrolling into OHIS “, he stated.
The Executive Secretary also stated that the Pensioners registration have started in December, and it continued till January, and February 1st, and they will start accessing healthcare free of charge.
He also spoke about teenship scheme for students across all tertiary institutions in the State. who can also enrol into the healthcare services.
Speaking on the challenges the Agency is facing, Akindele said “of course, funds are the most challenges, that’s why we call on stakeholders and more people to enroll into the scheme so as to increase the capital base and enlarge the scope.
Dr Adeyemo Adekunle, Representing State Cordinator National Health Insurance Agency, commended OSHIA for always being a shining example for others to emulate. He also added that the percentage of informal sector receiving quality healthcare will bring in more people to key into the programme.
Some of the healthcare services providers, who spoke with Newsmen commended the Agency for the providing conducive platform to be able to address the issues the healthcare service providers are facing and providing the solutions to it.
