By Adeyinka Adeniran
No fewer than 10,000 basic school pupils were on Thursday enrolled as the Oyo state government officially flagged off the state’s healthcare insurance scheme.
The children, enrolled from 90 schools across 18 LGAs were presented their Insurance scheme ID cards at an event held at the Ibadan Civic center, Idi-ape, Ibadan, by the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal.
The Deputy Governor said the enrolment was part of the state government’s effort towards ensuring its pupils are of sound minds.
He said, “This scheme will ensure that our children have sound minds, while they learn in conducive environments”
He applauded the partnership and collaboration between the Oyo State Health Insurance Agency, OYSHIA and the Oyo state Universal Basic Education Board, OYOSUBEB, in providing healthcare opportunities to public school children in the state.
“This event is a collective effort in securing a brighter future of Oyo State pupils,” he said.
The Deputy Governor also charged OYSHIA to double its efforts in extending the scheme to every school in the State, urging parents and guardians to key into the scheme.
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 give access to affordable, quality healthcare; a fundamental right for every child.
She said, “This initiative reinforces our collective commitment to universal health coverage, ensuring that no child faces financial obstacles to accessing healthcare.
“Universal health coverage is more than a healthcare goal—it’s a social and economic necessity. 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.
“This scheme exemplifies this by focusing on public primary school children, especially in hard-to-reach areas. 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.
“UNICEF remains steadfast in supporting the government and communities toward universal health coverage.”
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi applauded OYSHIA and Oyo SUBEB for their commitment towards healthy basic school pupils.
She assured the agencies of her Ministry’s unparalleled commitment to the scheme.
Also speaking, the Executive Chairman, Oyo SUBEB, Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran applauded OYSHIA, pledging the Board’s commitment to the smooth take-off and sustainability of the scheme.
Adeniran said, “At Oyo SUBEB, we operate on the principle of taking care of the pupils under our care as though they are ours”.
He added that the scheme would enable the beneficiaries to receive quality healthcare without paying exorbitantly to access it.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary, OYSHIA, Dr. Olusola Akande said the new door being opened today, is focusing on providing access to healthcare for 10,000 public primary school pupils in the first instance.
Dr. Akande noted that the agency will also commence an enrollment of additional 5,500 pupils into the scheme from next week.
The Executive Secretary applauded UNICEF, through whose support the Agency has been able to improve on its awareness campaign and increased the communities under Community Based Health Insurance scheme by 100 percent.
He equally stressed the unparalleled commitment of SUBEB chairman to the scheme.
“His open door policy and unrestricted access ensured we were able to keep to our time line”, he said.
The event was attended by relevant stakeholders in the health and education sectors, including the pupils.
