Adeleke’s govt has reduced our members’ death rate through Osun health insurance scheme – Pensioners

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Osun State chapter, has said the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke has helped reduce the death rate among its members through their enrolment in the Osun Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS).

The state government, over the last two years, enrolled 20,000 pensioners free of charge into the health insurance scheme as part of efforts to ensure access to quality healthcare services.

Speaking with journalists on Wednesday at the union’s headquarters in Osogbo, the Osun NUP Secretary, Comrade Dele Aina, said the policy has enabled retirees to access quality medical services without financial strain.

He described the governor’s intervention as a “life saver,” especially amid the rising cost of healthcare across the country.

According to him, the monthly pensions received by many retirees are barely enough to cover feeding expenses, let alone medical bills. He said the health insurance enrolment has therefore provided significant relief for pensioners and their families.

“Twenty thousand pensioners were enrolled, and we monitored the figure and confirmed that it is accurate. We are grateful to the Governor of Osun State because our people are truly benefiting from quality medical services through OHIS,” Aina said.

“Presently, some of our members who were not initially captured have been going there individually, and the government has been accommodating them on the issue of free healthcare.

“It is true that when it started, they covered minor ailments, but now a certain percentage is being paid for those who undergo surgical operations. However, we are still appealing to the government to consider covering the full cost of surgeries requested by beneficiaries.

“It has greatly helped our pensioners. Before now, some people were earning as little as N350, N500, or N750 monthly, and it was difficult for them to seek medical treatment. When the present government added N25,000 to what we were earning, it gave us some relief. It has even reduced the death rate among our members. We are thankful to the governor for what he has done.”

A retiree, Kolawole Koleosho, who also spoke with journalists, said since enrolling in the health insurance scheme, he has been able to use his pension primarily for feeding himself and his family.

He described the scheme as a major welfare initiative for retirees and commended the governor for prioritising the wellbeing of pensioners, urging him to sustain the programme.