Cross River Launches Health Insurance Scheme

The government of Cross River on Tuesday flagged off the state health insurance scheme in Calabar.

The official flag off was carried out by the wife of the governor, Dr. Linda Ayade who lauded all efforts put in place to ensure the scheme kicked off and called on the citizens and residents of the state to key into the scheme.

“I thank all who have put their energy and sweat in this process to ensure it works. Ill health does not ring a bell before coming. As a normal human being, you can be healthy today and sick tomorrow. So, that is why you need the health insurance in place. I hereby officially Flag off this scheme today,” she said.

Also speaking at the event, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Betta Edu encouraged people of the state, to get registered and enjoy quality health care, from the state government.

According to her, “It has been a long journey, right from 2015 when we started working on he bill in the House of Assembly. Then to 2016 when it was formally passed as a law in Cross River State. Today finally, Cross Riverians can access health care in our health facilities, from the primary, secondary and up to the tertiary levels, you can access health care without paying a dime as long as you are registered.

“My call to Cross Riverians is come out in your numbers and register for the state health insurance scheme. It is not a matter of delaying till when fall sick and you now rush to the hospital and register. Register now, because after you have registered, you will have to wait for 90 days before you will access health care. So, get registered.”

In her remarks, the Director General of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Janet Ekpenyong said, “Government alone cannot finance health, and health is one of the fundamental areas of our lives. And we don’t have enough funds to say government alone should sustain funding health care. And that’s why health insurance gives us that opportunity to strengthen our health system.

“If we must have universal health coverage, then we must have access to quality health care. That is exactly what the governor, Senator Professor Ben Ayade is doing.”