About 10,000 primary school pupils have been enrolled by the Oyo State government for its healthcare insurance programme as part of efforts towards ensuring the children are of sound minds.
The beneficiaries were chosen from 90 schools across 18 local government areas of the state, and were presented their insurance scheme ID cards on Thursday at the Ibadan Civic Centre, Idi-ape, Ibadan, by the Deputy Governor, Mr Bayo Lawal.
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 scheme will ensure that our children have sound minds, while they learn in conducive environments.
“This event is a collective effort in securing a brighter future of Oyo State pupils,” the deputy governor said.
Mr Lawal 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 in the Lagos Field Office, 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; 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 stated.
On her part, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, applauded OYSHIA and OYOSUBEB for their commitment towards healthy basic school pupils, assuring them of her Ministry’s unparalleled commitment to the scheme.
Also speaking, the Chairman of OYOSUBEB, Mr 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, adding that the scheme would enable the beneficiaries to receive quality healthcare without paying exorbitantly to access it.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of 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, noting that the agency will also commence an enrolment of additional 5,500 pupils into the scheme from next week.
He praised 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.
He equally stressed the unparalleled commitment of SUBEB chairman to the scheme, stating, “His open door policy and unrestricted access ensured we were able to keep to our timeline.”