The Chief Press Secretary to the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Richard Olatunde says the Governor has demonstrated sincere commitment to the promotion of qualitative Healthcare service in the state.
The Governor’s spokesperson said the Akeredolu administration has recorded impressive strides, particularly on Maternal and Child Healthcare Services in line with the global commitment towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
According to Olatunde, In 2017, when the Akeredolu administration came on board, the maternal and child care services at the two Mother and Child hospitals in Akure and Ondo towns were already suspended on account of backlog of debts already incurred on consumables, most significantly on drugs.
He noted that Governor Akeredolu did not only revive the dying Mother and Child hospitals, but also expanded the special health facilities to the other two senatorial districts in the state.
The CPS explained that the two Mother and Child Hospitals earlier established by the previous administration were concentrated in the Central Senatorial District.
Olatunde in a piece titled “Aketi Legacy” said:”On the 6th of February, 2018, Governor Akeredolu signed into Law the bill establishing the Ondo State Contributory Health Commission (ODCHC) and the Ondo State Contributory Health Scheme (ODCHS).
“The ODCHC has various health insurance products for all strata of the teeming population of Ondo state under the ODCHS cover, including the Abiyamo Maternal & Child Health Insurance Scheme (AMCHIS).
“On the 3rd of December, 2019, Governor Akeredolu launched the Abiyamo Maternal & Child Health Insurance Scheme (AMCHIS) as a State Equity Scheme for two sets of Vulnerables – Pregnant women and Under-5 children. This program is fully funded by the State Government.
“Since the inception of the scheme, it has made provision of maternal and child care free and sustainable. It gives access to Antenatal care, delivery (including Caesarean section), post-natal care for the mother (up to 6 weeks after delivery), neonatal care (first 30 days of baby’s life) and treatment of common illnesses in children till they attain the age of five years. Beneficiaries do not pay for services.
“The premium for AMCHIS is solely paid by the Ondo State Government. Till date, AMCHIS has recorded over 34,560 beneficiaries (pregnant women and children below five years of age).
“Under this scheme, a total number of 23,407
Antenatal Care (ANC) have been recorded with 10,853 Deliveries. Over 2,932 total Deliveries by Caeserean Sections (CS) have equally been recorded so far.
“There are seven AMCHIS providers spread across the three Senatorial Districts of the state namely: Mother & Child Hospital, Akure (Central Senatorial district); UNIMEDTH (Laje, Ondo & Akure complexes) – (Central Senatorial district); General Hospital, Owo (Northern Senatorial district); State Specialist Hospital, Ikare-Akoko (Northern Senatorial district); General Hospital, Ore (Southern Senatorial district); State Specialist Hospital, Okitipupa (Southern Senatorial district); and General Hospital, Igbokoda (Southern Senatorial district).
“Aside service delivery, the Akeredolu administration also embarked on Structural Expansion at the Mother and Child hospital in Akure with the construction of General Out-patients Department (GOPD).