NAN – Gov. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State on Wednesday, April 2, 2014 pledged that effective use of its resident card (Kaadi Igbe Ayo) would commence in May.
Mimiko said this while distributing more than 500 cards to pregnant women at the Comprehensive Health Centre at Moferere Market in Ondo.
The governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mrs Funmilayo Ajayi, said mechanism had been put in place to ensure proper implementation of the card initiative.
Mimiko said the card had earlier been distributed in Isolo, Oda Arakale and four other centres in Akure South Local Government as well as six council areas.
He also said more than 12,000 pregnant women had collected cards at different comprehensive health centres across the state
“ The card will give the pregnant women access to free health care services at Abiye centres from conception to delivery and until the child is five- years-old
“It also qualifies the card holder for a free mobile phone which guarantees effective monitoring and follow up during pregnancy, especially for those that need assistance during delivery,’’ he said.
Mimiko, who said the registration exercise for the card was a continuous process, added:
“This will checkmate the influx of many other Nigerians from other states who are depriving residents from benefiting the dividends of democracy.’’
Mr Tunde Yadeka, the Chairman Ondo State Civic Data Centre, said the card would be used to access all benefits from government.
Yadeka also said the card would contain electronic data that could assist health care providers.
