The Oyo State Government has enrolled about 10,000 vulnerable children in public primary schools into the state's Health Insurance Scheme under the Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA).

Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, who was represented by his Deputy Governor, Barr. Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal, presented the health insurance identity cards to beneficiaries at the flag-off of the public primary pupils health insurance scheme, held at the Ibadan Civic Centre, Idi Ape, Ibadan, on Thursday.

The 10,000 pupils were drawn from 90 schools across 18 of the 33 Local Government Areas of the state.

According to the governor, the enrolment of the public primary school pupils into the state's health insurance was a well-thought-out policy aimed at securing the future of the children by ensuring that they get an all-round education with healthy bodies and sound minds.

He said: "We have to really appreciate OYSHIA for deeming it fit to extend this initiative to public schools in Oyo State. Currently, they have captured 90 schools and we are going to around 10,000 pupils within the shortest time.

?We have five major zones and I know that 18 local government areas have been captured through this current exercise. You must extend this laudable exercise to other zones as well.

?UNICEF, we must commend you because, as it has been indicated several decades back, you have given support to our public primary and secondary schools. I want to urge you not to relent in your efforts in giving support.

?This is because we want these children to grow and showcase their talents under a conducive environment and atmosphere health-wise.

?The environment is duly challenged as you know. Even, their habitation cannot be described as the best we can have in the world. Some of them are coming from homes that don?t have lavatories and are choked up.

?But with this intervention, it means that different diseases can be prevented and that is why I am commending your efforts so that our children will be healthy under a good learning environment."

The governor equally lauded the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (OYOSUBEB) for collaborating with OYSHIA to deliver what would be a masterpiece in healthcare delivery in the education sector.

Charging OYSHIA to redouble its efforts towards increasing the number of public primary school pupils enrolled into the health insurance scheme by extending the scheme to every school in the state, the governor urged parents and guardians to key into the scheme.

Also speaking, OYSHIA's Executive Secretary, Dr. Olusola Akande, described the scheme as the first of its kind in Nigeria, noting that it is the 9th door created by OYSHIA towards ensuring quality health care delivery to residents of the state on the watch of Governor Makinde.

He also commended UNICEF for giving OYSHIA the logistics support towards reaching communities and improving its awareness campaign, among others.

He said: ?I welcome you all to this pace-setting event, which is the official flag off of public primary school pupils' health insurance scheme, arguably the first of its kind in Nigeria.

?The commencement of this scheme today makes it the 9th door created by OYSHIA, leading to access to quality health care services by residents of Oyo State.

?The doors are conventional OYSHIA scheme, community-based health insurance scheme, pensioners and old people scheme, Tertiary Students? Health Insurance Scheme, basic health care provision fund, adoption model of which His Excellency is the Chief, Diaspora Contributory Scheme, SAfER health, SAfER Oyo and now a new entrant ? Public Primary School Pupils? Insurance.

?All the above-mentioned models have given access to quality health care services to over 250,000 residents of the state and have reduced out-of-pocket expenditure to an average of 10 per cent from the current rate of 75 per cent.

?In effect, the purchasing power and quality of lives of about 2.5 per cent of the residents of the state has improved through the activities of OYSHIA.

?Your Excellency, permit me to reel out the major life-saving interventions that some of our enrollees have enjoyed in the last one year; 261 caesarean sections have been done; 195 cataract or eye surgeries done; 148 myomectomy, 9 ORIF procedures, 12 laparotomy, 13 prostatectomy and 1 open heart surgery done.

?Apart from providing access to improve quality of health care, the agency, through payment of capitation to various accredited hospitals, has contributed significantly to the efforts of Oyo State Government in repositioning our hospitals for better service delivery, especially at the primary health care level.

?It will interest Your Excellency to know that OYSHIA paid up to N735,366,230 as capitation to all accredited hospitals in 2024 alone. Through this, heads of various hospitals have made significant headway in infrastructural upgrade of their facilities, procurement of essential tools, provision of drugs and consumables.

?This new door being opened today is focusing on providing access to health care for 10,000 primary school pupils in the first instance. This we have been able to achieve through immense support from UNICEF.

?In addition, through UNICEF support, the agency has been able to improve on our awareness campaign and increased the communities under community-based health insurance by 100 per cent. Even the food and drinks we give to the children today are from UNICEF support.

?Your Excellency, permit me to extend deep regards to the chairman of SUBEB, who has demonstrated unparalleled commitment to the take-off of this scheme, his open door policy and his unrestricted access to ensure we are able to keep to our timeline. And I solicit your further assistance, Your Excellency, as we embark on enrolment of additional 5,500 pupils into this scheme, commencing from next week.

?I want to thank His Excellency for his efforts towards repositioning our hospitals for better service delivery, especially at the primary healthcare level. Through this opportunity, we have impacted many lives and affected the destinies of many children and women.?

In her goodwill message, the Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Ms. Celine Lafoucriere, noted that the launch of the Oyo State Public Primary School Pupils Health Insurance Scheme will ensure access to affordable, quality health care, which is a fundamental right of every child.

She commended the Oyo State Government for being a trailblazer on such a scheme.

Similarly, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, applauded OYSHIA and OYOSUBEB for their commitment to healthy basic school pupils.

She assured the agencies of her Ministry?s commitment to the scheme.

In the same development, the Executive Chairman, Oyo SUBEB, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, applauded OYSHIA, pledging the Board?s commitment to the smooth take-off and sustainability of the scheme.

He added that the scheme would enable the beneficiaries to receive quality healthcare without paying exorbitantly to access it.

Update news