By Prince Charles Ekanem
The government of Cross River State yesterday at U.J Esuene Stadium successfully commence the State Health Insurance Scheme also known as AYADECARE with a view to achieving universal health coverage as well as promoting access to quality and affordable healthcare services.
This followed a pledged of 200 million Naira by the State Government and 50 million Naira personal donation by himself, the wife and the entire family. He went further to state that each National Assembly and State house member has pledged to support the scheme by enrolling 500 persons per ward. According to him with all the commitment the State will realize approximately 500 million Naira for the scheme.
Ayade commended USAID, Health Finance and Governance, National Health Insurance Scheme for their overwhelming support to the setting up of the scheme.
"The people of Cross River State are totally determined and very committed to see the scheme work having been deprived of their oil wells and lands without following due process.
He call on the federal government to support the State Health insurance scheme to succeed. He said the insurance scheme was open to all residents of Cross River State and free for children across the State says the Governor.
Governor Ayade who was enthusiastic about the scheme noted that while others are gathered in Geneva discussing comprehensive healthcare insurance cover, Cross River State are busy working the discussion and where the are doing the discussion Cross River are taking action.
The Honorable Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt Hon John Gaul Lebo whose legislative assembly played a pivotal role to the successful passage of the State Health Insurance scheme law said Ayadecare will not only provide healthcare to the poorest but help the state attained universal healthcare coverage.
Also speaking, Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong said with a token amount of 1,000 Naira residents of Cross River State are entitle to unlimited healthcare with revitalize, operational and functional facilities across the 196 Wards with 3 referrals hospitals across the state.
Earlier Speaking, Special Adviser Insurance and head of the Cross River State Healthcare Insurance Agency, Chief Godwin Iyala said all apparatus are in place to ensure that the program is successful as it will bring quality and accessible healthcare to the doorstep of Cross Riverians.
Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Betta Edu had earlier noted that Cross River State have taken a great lead that even Nigeria has not been able to take as a country with less than five percent of citizens medically insured but here His Excellency, Senator Prof Ben Ayade has insured Cross Riverians and help achieved universal health coverage in no distance time. She said every man, woman and child in Cross River State will have unhindered access to healthcare through Ayadecare.
Chairman National Healthcare Insurance Scheme, Dr. Enyantu Ifenne said Cross River is among the fourteen State that have so far implemented Health insurance scheme and are ahead of others while Helen Baruwa from Health Finance and Governance added by congratulating the leadership and entire people of Cross River State for successfully flagging off the state health insurance scheme in a journey to achieve universal healthcare coverage. She said HFG will continue to play a technical supportive role for the State.
His Excellency Senator ( Prof ) Ben Ayade and his Wife , Dr Linda Ayade became the first and second enrollees of the Scheme as their biometric data was captured by ICT unit of the Agency.
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