The Ondo state government in her efforts to achieve universal health coverage has launched the state’s Contributory Health schedule, kick-starting it with the Abiyamo Maternal And Child Health Insurance Scheme.
Speaking at the launch which held at the Mother and Child Hospital in Akure, Ondo state capital, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, said health was a fundamental human right and a critical indicator of human development and a global priority, hence his administration has decided to accord it it’s pride of place in governance policy.
Arakunrin Akeredolu said the SDG goals emphasises universal health coverage which includes financial risk protection and understanding financial incapability of residents of the state, his administration decided to prioritise the health of pregnant women and children under five by paying their premium.
To have effective and efficient health facilities to drive the programme, the governor promised to employ more health workers.
He added that to prevent the scheme from being bastardised, the residency card, code named Kaadi Igbeayo and other conditions ; such as minimum of four antenatal visits for pregnant women, among others are prerequisites to benefit from the scheme.
The governor said for easy access, the scope of providers has been expanded from two Mother and Child Hospitals to seven, which is spread across the three senatorial districts of the state.
In his remark, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Jibayo Adeyeye commended Governor Akeredolu for taking the bull by the horn in providing insurance cover for pregnant women and children under five.
He said Abiyamo Maternal and Child Health Insurance scheme is one with a well defined sustainability consideration as it has been well structured as one of the products developed and managed by the State’s Contributory Health Insurance Commission.
