The Chairman of Abeokuta North Local Government, Lanre Oyegbola-Sodipo and his counterpart from the Abeokuta South Local Government, Afeez Balogun, have both declared plans to register not fewer than 8000 commercial motorcyclists operating in the two council areas for the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme.
Oyegbola-Sodipo disclosed this on Tuesday at a joint press briefing with the Abeokuta South LG Chairman held at the press centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State Council secretariat, Abeokuta
The LG boss explained that the initiative is in line with the commitment of Gov Dapo Abiodun to ensure that the people at the grassroots, especially the poorest of the poor in the informal sector of the economy, have unfettered access to qualitative healthcare services.
The council chairman disclosed that people who subscribe to this health care insurance scheme will get treatment for ailments ranging from Malaria, Typhoid, diabetes, and hypertension to even basic surgeries like hernia, appendicitis, among others.
He said that though other artisans and traders in the informal sector would also be captured for the exercise but the two local governments which fall within the Abeokuta metropolis are targeting the commercial motorcycle operators, given the risk they are exposed to daily, which could sometimes lead to accidents.
Oyegbola-Sodipo explained that “The Federal Road Safety Corps said that 45% of the accidents in the state are motorcycle-related, and when this happens, more often than not, the riders and the passengers are left on their own. Some may not have what it takes to get the required medical treatment.
“But with this health insurance scheme, the riders and the passengers are covered. They can easily get treated because the motorcycle riders have subscribed to the scheme.
“Each subscriber to this scheme will pay N300 daily for six days every week. The beauty of this is that even without being involved in any accident, you can always go to the nearest health facilities around you to access medical care if you have Malaria, Typhoid, Hypertension and even basic surgeries like hernia and appendicitis.”
He explained that, Contrary to misinformation making the rounds, this scheme does not, in any way, affect the daily ticketing system operated by the recognised Okada riders’ unions — ROMO, ACOMORAN, and AMORAN.
Oyegbola-Sodipo also said that participation in this insurance scheme is strictly voluntary, while no rider is under any obligation to subscribe, and no penalties exist for those who choose not to participate.
He noted that key stakeholders within the unions have also been fully carried along since November last year, while several meetings and engagements were held to explain the purpose, benefits, and operational details of the insurance scheme, ensuring full transparency and stakeholder buy-in before implementation.
Oyegbola-Sodipo also said that the exercise, which kicked off last week Thursday at the Abeokuta North Local Government, had already captured 900 motorcycle riders and that the plan is to bring on board about 8000 okada riders working in the two local governments.
Also speaking at the briefing, the Chairman of Abeokuta South, Afeez Balogun, said that 2000 elderly people have been registered for this health insurance scheme in both local governments, and they have continued to enjoy free health care services and which they have always appreciated.
He disclosed that his local government will also be starting the onboarding of the commercial motorcycle riders into the health insurance scheme on Wednesday.
Balogun said that the essence of this health insurance scheme is to provide a safety net for the people and ensure that their well-being does not suffer unnecessarily due to a lack of funds.
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