Adeleke unveils health insurance for Osun monarchs, says 200 PHC rehabilitated

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has launched a free health insurance initiative for the state's traditional rulers and their queens, marking another step in his administration's commitment to expanding access to quality and affordable healthcare. The symbolic presentation of health insurance cards took place in Osogbo, Osun State, during the inauguration of the newly completed Osun Health Insurance Multipurpose Hall.

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The free enrolment initiative is another bold step by our administration to ensure that traditional rulers and their queens enjoy access. We are determined to provide qualitative healthcare services without financial hardship, in line with the government’s people-centred health policy.

Governor Adeleke emphasized that this initiative underscores his administration's dedication to ensuring traditional rulers and their consorts receive healthcare services without financial hardship, aligning with the government's people-centered health policy. He also used the occasion to list other achievements, including the rehabilitation of over 200 primary healthcare centers, over 300 kilometers of roads, and over 150 schools, alongside ongoing payments of salary debt and pensions.

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Our administration has delivered across the sectors: over 300 kilometres of roads, over 200 rehabilitated primary care centres, over 150 rehabilitated schools, ongoing payments of salary debt and pensions, almost N2bn for cooperative financing, new tractors and farm inputs for farmers, ongoing five star stadium, and so many other deliveries of good governance. Our administration has done well; we deserve to be re-elected.

Dr. Rasaq Akindele, Executive Secretary of the Osun Health Insurance Agency, described the free enrollment for traditional rulers as a "strategic milestone." He explained that the initiative extends beyond mere coverage, serving as a deliberate strategy to foster community ownership and acceptance of the health insurance scheme. Akindele highlighted the influential role of traditional rulers as custodians of culture and trusted voices within their communities.

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It is a deliberate strategy to deepen community ownership and acceptance of the Scheme. Across our State, Royal Fathers are the custodians of our culture, the gatekeepers of our communities and trusted voices whose influence transcends social, political and religious divides.

By enrolling traditional rulers, the administration aims to recognize their contributions to community development and empower them as ambassadors for social health insurance at the grassroots level. Their personal experiences with the scheme are expected to build confidence among their subjects, encourage voluntary enrollment, and reinforce the message that health insurance is a reliable pathway to quality healthcare.

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By enrolling them into the Scheme, we are not only recognizing their invaluable contributions to community development but also empowering them to serve as ambassadors and advocates for social health insurance at the grassroots.