Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has on Wednesday flagged off the enrolment of Pensioners in the State into the Osun Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS).
In his address at the official flag off, the Governor announced that all the Pensioners in Osun are going to be enrolled into the scheme, as this will avail them the opportunity to have access to good healthcare.
Governor Adeleke said he is on a daily basis thinking outside the box to make sure Osun progresses.
He however implored the retirees not to gamble with their health, noting that they must be conducting check-up regularly.
The Governor stated that “It gives me a great pleasure and sense of fulfillment that our government is registering all the Pensioners in Osun State in lime with our electoral promises to the good people of Osun State.
“I am here to again demonstrate in clear terms my commitment to the wellbeing of our retired citizens. These are men and women who meritoriously served the state. They deserve all the support now that they are out of service.
“Our administration conducted a situational review of the living conditions of our pensioners. We discover that the critical problem is not just unpaid pensions. Even when paid regularly , the bulk of the fund goes into managing health challenges. Our report concluded that almost eighty percent of pensioners’ problem centers around health questions.
“It was at this point that we decided to address the root cause. We opted to meet our senior citizens at their point of needs. It is gratifying to note that this programme is the first of its kind. This is a direct intervention to prove that the government can indeed meet the desires and aspirations of the people.
There are at least 19,000 (Nineteen Thousand) pensioners in Osun. All of them will be enrolled into this scheme. Please take advantage of this by availing yourself for this enrollment.
You will recall that this government has embarked on free medical and surgery treatment twice this year in the Imole medical and surgical outreach. That outreach has become a permanent feature of our medical system.
“We promise to do more. We shall embark on activities that will ensure the good health of the good people of Osun State. Very soon, we shall also register all the very weak (awon ti won ko ri owo ho ri) in the state. We shall also organise state wide screening processes that will ensure disease detection at curable stages.
“My dear senior citizens, when I was campaigning, I told you your care would be my top priority.
“I told you pension debt will be paid off in phases. During that campaign I assured you this government would be of the people, by the people and of the people. Am I fulfilling my promises?
“Our dear senior citizens, let me report that on a daily basis, I think out of the box to find solutions to our aspirations and demands. It was in that line we unveiled the multi-billion naira infra plan for the state. I appreciate the wide acceptance of the plan by the good people of Osun state.
“Allow me to allay the fears of workers and pensioners. The funding for the infra plan will have no negative impact on workers’ welfare. I have proved that fact today by launching this health insurance scheme for our pensioners.“
He however commended the Commissioner for Health; Special Adviser, Public Health; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health; the Chief Medical Director, Uniosun Teaching Hospital and the Executive Secretary of Osun Health Insurance Agency (OHIS) for making the project a success.