By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan
Oyo State government has officially flagged off the enrolment of 10,000 basic school pupils into the state’s Healthcare Insurance Scheme.
The children, enroled from 90 schools across 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs), were presented their Insurance Scheme ID cards on Thursday, February 27, at the Ibadan Civic Centre, Idi-Ape, by the State Deputy Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal.
Lawal said the enrolment was part of the state government’s effort towards ensuring its pupils were of sound minds.
“This scheme will ensure that our children have sound minds, while they learn in conducive environments,” he said.
He also 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 Lagos Field Office Chief of United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Ms. Celine Lafoucriere, noted that the launch of the Oyo State Public Primary School Pupils Health Insurance Scheme would give access to affordable, quality healthcare, describing it as “a fundamental right for every child.”
“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,” she added.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, applauded OYSHIA and OYOSUBEB 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, OYOSUBEB, Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, applauded OYSHIA, pledging the Board’s commitment to the smooth take-off and sustainability of the scheme.
“At OYOSUBEB, we operate on the principle of taking care of the pupils under our care as though they are ours,” he said.
Dr. Adeniran added that the scheme would enable the beneficiaries 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 would also commence an enrolment 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 the Community Based Health Insurance scheme by 100 per cent.
