Adeleke flags off 23,000 pensioners for free enrollment into health insurance scheme

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has said that 23,000 pensioners will be enrolled, free of charge, into the State Health Insurance Scheme (O’HIS).

Adeleke disclosed this Osogbo during the flagging off pensioners’ Enrollment for the Health insurance Scheme held at Local Government service commission, Abere office in osogbo, on Wednesday.

The Governor noted that the gesture was in fulfilment of one of his electoral promises during the 2022 governorship electioneering.

He said the scheme would accord the pensioners the opportunity to access free healthcare services wherever they may be in the State.
His words: ” Today I 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.”

In his address, the Executive Secretary, O’HIS, Dr Rasak Akindele said once the enrolment cards are ready after registration, the pensioners can access free healthcare service at any government health facility in the country.

He said the governor has directed the agency to also enrol 20,000 vulnerable individual in the state into the scheme free of charge immediately after the turn of the pensioners.

Also, speaking, President of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Osun State Chapter, Alhaji Ganiyu Salawu appreciated the governor for the kind gesture acknowledging that what Governor did for them is more appropriated than given them money to share.

Salamu who declared the Pensioners support for Adeleke’s second term
said: “Since the creation of Osun State, what happened during this present administration has never happened. As a matter of fact, no government has ever making life better for the retirees like Governor Ademola Adeleke is doing.

“We really commend the governor for counting us worthy and we assure him of since support for the second term in office.”