Odunlade Signs MoU With Ogun State As Health Insurance Ambassador

Odunlade Adekola has been unveiled as Ogun State Health Insurance Ambassador on Monday

Dr Tomi Coker, the state Commissioner for Health, who unveiled Odunlade as the state Health Insurance Ambassador, said it was part of the state's efforts to expand the insurance scheme across the state.

Coker further explained that the actor’s choice was out of his will to create awareness of the scheme.

He said that the wide reach and acceptance of the actor by both young and old would serve as “a catalyst to propagate the movement and acceptance of the scheme across the state”.

“We will like to draw awareness for our health insurance acceptance in the communities.

”We looked up and down in Nigeria and inward in Ogun and our Ambassador cannot be anybody else than Mr Odunlade Adekola, because he is a son of the soil.

“He was born right here in Abeokuta and he’s a very familiar face on our screens and on the radio.

“We want the public to engage in our health insurance process, hence, the choice of this multi-talented and influential brand Ambassador,” he said.

While signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Adekola, the commissioner said that the state has registered 50,000 indigents in 196 primary healthcare centres in the state.

Coker noted that the registered indigents are those who cannot afford to pay for quality healthcare, which is the more reason to raise awareness for ore registration. 

She added that registered residents are to pay a sum of N12,000 annually so that they can access healthcare services at any of the primary health centres in the state.

“A couple of weeks ago, the insurance law mandated that we, as citizens of Nigeria, must have health insurance.

“This means that we will have a sustainable way of financing our healthcare and no one will have to pay out of pocket to access healthcare.

“Of the 50,000 that registered, we have been able to employ 50 doctors, 40 midwives and about to employ 64 more doctors to ensure that when you visit a health centre, you’ll meet a doctor or skill health professional to attend to you,” she said.

Accepting the ambassadorial duty, Adekola said that as “health is wealth” such should not be taken carelessly

He pledges to work hand in hand with the ministry to ensure an improved health sector in the state.

He also thanked the state government for choosing him as the health insurance ambassador which is one of the most important sectors in the country.