State Govt Extends Coverage For Free Eye Screening Exercise

A free eye screening exercise of the Oyo State government has been expanded to accommodate both pupils in private secondary schools and their teachers.

Executive Secretary of the Osun Health Insurance Agency (OSHIA), Rasaq Akindele, provided update on  the free eye screening exercise at the 4^th quarter meeting with service providers, which held in Osogbo on Wednesday.

About 345,000 public primary and secondary school pupils were screened for eye-related challenges under the state-funded initiative called the Imole School Eye Health Programme

Akindele stated that following the screening, over 42,000 pupils received free treatment, including medication for their various sight challenges, while others were given free glasses.

“We know that there is a need for us to increase what we are paying as capitation. It used to be N570 per enrollee, but given the current economic situation, I think there is a need for an increase. So, we have raised it to N700 per enrollee for now.

“And in the shortest possible time, we are still going to increase it. We expect that providers will be more hardworking and conscientious in giving treatment to enrollees when they visit the facilities. What I expect is a significant improvement in the care that enrollees will receive,” Akindele said.

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Though financial constraint had delayed the extension of the initiative to private institutions,  Akindele assured that, We are going to extend eye care to private schools and their teachers. It is in the pipeline and will be rolled out anytime now.”

“There have been many improvements in the care of enrollees. We have fewer complaints now, and many people are showing gratitude and appreciation to the facilities for the care rendered. In essence, there is a significant improvement from the last time until today”, he stated.