THE GOVERNOR OF ONDO STATE, ARAKUNRIN OLUWAROTIMI AKEREDOLU, SAN, AT THE OFFICIAL FLAG-OFF OF BASIC HEALTH CARE PROVISION FUND PROGRAMME

THE ONDO STATE CONTRIBUTORY HEALTH COMMISION OFFICE

I am happy to be here today to officially kick start a healthcare programme that will mitigate financial barrier to access to healthcare services in our State. This is in demonstration of our resolve to rise above the debilitating effect of COVID-19 and its numerous socio-economic complications.

This healthcare intervention package, called the Basic Health Care Provision Fund Programme (BHCPFP), is the second equity scheme of the Ondo State Contributory Health Commission (ODCHC), which is the brain child and glowing pride of our administration.

This programme will be coordinated by the Ondo State Contributory Health Scheme in collaboration with the Ondo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency. The beneficiaries of BHCPFP are the vulnerable people in Ondo State. You will recall that on the 3rdDecember, 2019, I officially flagged off the first health insurance product of ODCHC called the Abiyamo Maternal-and-Child Health Insurance Scheme (AMCHIS), as the first equity healthcare scheme for two sets of vulnerable people – the pregnant women and children below the age of 5 years.

For the records, the Abiyamo programme is classified an equity scheme because the vulnerable beneficiaries do not pay a kobo for antenatal care, delivery services including Caesarean Section, post-delivery care up to six weeks after birth and treatment of common illnesses in under-5 children.

Ondo state government, under our administration, is solely responsible for its funding with a financial commitment of N600 million naira as appropriated for in the 2021 budget. The Basic Health Care Provision Fund Programme is also classified as an equity Healthcare because the vulnerable beneficiaries shall not pay a kobo for the covered healthcare services.

The Federal Government, in deference to the National Hopealth Act 2014 (as amended) has set aside 1% of the Consolidated Revenue Fund CRF) of the Federation to fund this programme on a yearly basis while the Ondo State Government, paid the sum of N100 million Naira as our commitment fee.

We are glad to report that our administration has, for almost four years, strengthened the Primary Healthcare System of our dear State to enhance its ability to provide the primary care services of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund Programme.

To this end, 203 primary healthcare facilities across the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) have been identified, assessed and offered provisional accreditation to act as primary providers of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund Programme. Within the limits of available resources, we have also supported the Specialists’ and General Hospitals in the State to be able to act as referral centres for these 203 primary healthcare facilities, under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund Programme.

We shall, however, not relent in providing more support in terms of human resource for health and infrastructural upgrade of these healthcare facilities in our second term in office.

I thank the Federal Government under the visionary leadership of our dear President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, for the development which we are witnessing even in the area of healthcare delivery.

I thank all stakeholders whose presence here today demonstrate our collective resolve to ensure the success of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund Programme in our dear State. It is my prayer that the disease burden among the poor and vulnerable in Ondo State will significantly diminish with this equitable intervention.

Finally, it is to the glory of God and benefit of the vulnerable in Ondo State, that I flag off the Basic Health Care Provision Fund Programme in Ondo State.
I thank you all for being part of history.

ARAKUNRIN OLUWAROTIMI AKEREDOLU SAN
GOVERNOR OF ONDO STATE