Oyo State Government through the Agency for the Control of AIDS (OYSACA) and the State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA) has started the enrollment of indigent People Living With HIV across the State into its free basic healthcare scheme.

The registration for the Scheme which took place recently at OYSACA’s conference room and at the Zonal offices of OYSHIA across the six geopolitical zones in the State, is under the Basic Health Provision Funds, an initiative of the Federal Government set aside to cater for the health needs of vulnerable people and poorest among the poor in the society.

While addressing the journalists, the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OYSACA), Dr. Lanre Abass stated that one of the cardinal areas that the Agency is working on is to make sure that it brings succor to the People Living With HIV (PLWIHV) in the State.

“In doing this we approached the OYSHIA so that our people living with HIV especially the poor among them will be able to access free medical services paid for by the State Government through the poorest of the poor program under the Basic Health Care Fund and thank God that is what we are doing today.” Dr Abass noted.

He expressed his gratitude to the Executive Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde for granting the Agency’s wish by extending the dividends of democracy to PLHIV in the State.

“I want to appreciate the Governor through his wife, our Chairperson, Engr. Mrs Tamunominini Makinde, he has been a man of people.” He said.

“He has been showing passion for the lives of the citizens of Oyo State through many programmatic interventions and this is one of them.

People Living With HIV in the State are not forgotten and not neglected, their health is also a major concern to the Governor.” Dr. Abass added.

The Executive Secretary enjoined the beneficiaries of the program (PLWIHV) to make proper use of it and not to abuse it.

“It is only when you need services that you should access it” everybody needs to, to ensure efficiency, continuity and  sustainability, he urged.

The representative of OYSHIA who is the desk officer for the Agency, Miss Orimadegun Bolatito explained that after the capturing the details of the beneficiaries, Identity Cards would be issued to them and they would be assigned into various facilities across the State where they can get treatment for whatever ailment they may be suffering from.

Orimadegun hinted that the scheme covered the basic minimum health package set at Federal Level which includes both primary and secondary services.

“If we have needs for referral, we have our general hospitals all over the State to handle secondary services, they would be referred and they would be treated for the secondary services if that is necessary.” She said.

Appreciating the Governor, on behalf of People Living With HIV in the State, the State Coordinator, the Network of People Living With HIV and AIDs in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Mr. Olawale Faith urged his people to make good use of the opportunity bestowed on them by the Governor.

Olawale said “I want to thank the Governor for given us this opportunity, for considering us, for supporting our people in that area, we appreciate His Excellency so much and we pray that God will continue to bless him and renew his strength.