Lawmaker partners NHIS, NGO on healthcare delivery in Ilaje

As part of efforts to ensure improved, affordable and qualitative healthcare  for the people of coastal communities, the lawmaker representing Ilaje constituency 1 in Ondo State House of Assembly, Honourable Abayomi Akinruntan, has partnered the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), to give medical support to the people under primary healthcare service.

Aside this, is also collaborating with a non-government organisation,  Equitable Health Access Initiative, to solve some basic health challenges facing the people.

Speaking on the development during an inspection of health centres, Akinruntan disclosed that he, alongside representatives of the NGO and the NHIS in the state were visiting two of the 18 health centres in the constituency in readiness for the  commencement of the health insurance scheme.

According to him, the collaboration with the NGO and NHIS became imperative in order to provide qualitative and affordable healthcare as stipulated by the  United Nations.

He said the two health centres visited are Ilowo Comprehensive Health Centre,  located in the centre of the coastal area and Ugbonla Basic Health Centre, Ugbonla.

He said: “Our people, especially those in riverine areas, face a lot of problems in trying to access quality healthcare. It is expensive and it is not easy moving pregnant women and emergency cases with boat or canoe from the riverine area to the upland.

“I saw the need for intervention in this area and I have decided to put it upon myself to provide quality healthcare not minding the harsh economic situation. This tour is for us to assess the level of readiness of the centres to provide such services.”

Speaking during the inspection visit, the  NHIS Director in the state, Mr. Simon Adeniji, commended the lawmaker for providing the platform to deliver the Federal Government initiative to the people of Ilaje constituency

He said that the aim of the NHIS is to ensure communities, especially the rural ones, have direct access to quality healthcare across the country at little  or no cost, adding that the motives behind their visit was to take a look at the infrastructure on ground at the health centres and strategise on how to deliver good and quality healthcare.

The CEO of EHAI, Dr. Akinmurele Timothy, admitted that Hon. Akinruntan has done a good and noble thing by being passionate about the welfare of his people, adding that only those who have their people in mind will decide to bear the cost which he highlighted to be about N800 monthly per person.