Osun inmates health insurance gets boost as Governor Adeleke approves free enrollment into OHIS, extending healthcare access to correctional centres.
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has approved the free enrollment of inmates in all correctional centres across the state into the Osun Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS).
The landmark initiative is being hailed as another bold stride in the governor’s ongoing reforms to make healthcare accessible to every resident of the state, irrespective of their economic or social circumstances.
The decision followed a formal appeal by the Osun State Controller of Corrections, Olalekan Rotimi Oluwadele (MNIM), who visited the governor to highlight the pressing healthcare needs of inmates.
Responding to this request, the governor directed the immediate inclusion of inmates in the state’s health insurance programme, thereby ensuring that they enjoy comprehensive medical coverage during their stay in correctional facilities.
Speaking at a press briefing, the Executive Secretary of the Osun Health Insurance Agency described the gesture as a demonstration of the governor’s compassion and commitment to human dignity.
“Mr. Governor believes that inmates are not outcasts but members of our society who, after serving their time, will be reintegrated into the community.
“Their health, therefore, cannot be neglected. This gesture is a genuine step from the heart, devoid of political undertones, and a clear indication of Osun State Government’s readiness to collaborate with federal authorities and international partners to improve the well-being of its people,” he said.
This latest move comes on the heels of several groundbreaking interventions introduced by the Adeleke administration in the health sector.
More than 26,000 retirees have been enrolled free of charge in OHIS, receiving treatment without paying the usual 10% drug cost that typically applies to enrollees.
Persons with disabilities in Osun have also benefited from free enrollment, alongside the distribution of essential life-support devices.
These include motorised wheelchairs, crutches, hearing aids, walking sticks, visual aids, ultraviolet umbrellas, and protective creams, all designed to improve their quality of life and mobility.
In what has been described as one of the largest public health exercises in the state, about 450,000 pupils in public primary and secondary schools were screened for visual problems.
Out of this number, 46,000 were diagnosed with various impairments, 43,000 received corrective eyeglasses, while thousands of others who needed surgery or medication were treated free of charge.
Healthcare in correctional centres has often been neglected across Nigeria, leaving inmates vulnerable to disease outbreaks and untreated medical conditions.
Governor Adeleke’s intervention is expected to change the narrative in Osun, ensuring that inmates have equal access to medical care like other citizens.
Officials say the decision will not only improve the quality of life of inmates but will also aid the process of rehabilitation.
With access to medical care, inmates are expected to be physically and mentally healthier, thereby standing a better chance of reintegration into society after completing their sentences.
The Executive Secretary of OHIS urged inmates to take advantage of the opportunity by prioritizing their health, obeying correctional rules, and preparing themselves for productive reintegration.
“The governor has given them a lifeline. It is now left for the inmates to embrace this gesture and rebuild their lives with healthy minds and bodies,” he said.
Governor Adeleke’s initiatives are part of his broader commitment to Universal Health Coverage (UHC), which seeks to guarantee access to essential healthcare services for all, without financial hardship.
By extending health insurance to groups such as pensioners, schoolchildren, persons with disabilities, and now correctional inmates, the state government is gradually building a more inclusive healthcare system.