Two local government areas in Ogun state have initiated plans to unboard the informal sectors into the state’s healthcare insurance scheme.
The chairman of Abeokuta North local government, Lanre Oyegbola-Sodipo, and his counterpart from the Abeokuta South local government, Afeez Balogun, in a joint press conference held at the NUJ secretariat, Iwe Iroyin stated that the registration will start with the commercial motorcyclists.
The chairmen noted that about 8000 commercial motorcyclists operating in the two council areas have been projected for registration into the scheme.
They added that the initiative is in line with the commitment of Gov. Dapo Abiodun to ensure that the people at the grassroots, especially the poorest of the poor in the informal sector of the economy have unfettered access to qualitative healthcare services.
“The Federal Road Safety Corps said that 45% of the accidents in the state are motorcycle related and when this happens, more often than not the riders and the passengers are left on their own. Some may not have what it takes to get the required medical treatment.
“But with this health insurance scheme, the riders and the passengers are covered. They can easily get treated because the motorcycle riders have subscribed to the scheme.
“Each subscriber to this scheme will pay N300 daily for six days in every week. The beauty of this is that even without being involved in any accident, you can always go to the nearest health facilities around you to access medical care if you have Malaria, Typhoid, Hypertension and even basic surgeries like hernia and appendicitis”, Oyegbola-Sodipo said