Cross River Government flags off health insurance scheme
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
The formal sector of the Cross River State economy has formally joined the state’s health insurance scheme which is also called AyadeCare.
With this, civil servants across the states will, with the deduction of N1, 000 monthly, enjoy free and qualitative health services.
Speaking on this feat, the state’s health commissioner, Dr. Janet Ekpenyong described the scheme as a win-win situation as it will guarantee sustainable funding of the health sector in the state
“It’s a win-win situation for us and that’s why we needed the formal sector to buy in, we had already started enrolment seven months ago and 90 days after that they should be able to access care.
“The beauty of it is that it is deducted from source and you need to buy in of civil servants to ensure that there is that sustainable financing that will continuously service the health sector.
“This is key because once you are able to achieve this, you no longer need to depend on government funding,” she said.
She added that so far, over 40,000 residents have registered for the state’s health insurance scheme.
On his part, the State’s Head of Service Ogbang Akwaji said only a government that has its people at heart can do this.
He said with the scheme, deductions are being done at source and his office is also working to ensure that workers at the local government level also enroll for the scheme.
He said there is a key performance indication template in place to reward hardworking officers and tasked managers of the scheme to ensure it is insulated from politics.
Also speaking, the Director General of the State’s Health insurance Scheme Godwin Iyala said with the flag off civil servants in the state will now have access to care.
He added that if there is referral, the agency has signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital to guarantee service and over 36 hospitals across the state are part of the scheme.
He thanked the state governor for the successes so far recorded and added that the state’s general hospital has been fully mobilised for the scheme and promised not to let labour down.
The flag off was held by the Cross River State Health Insurance Agency in conjunction with the State Ministry of Health and the office of the head of service.
