…Charges Residents To Key Into Scheme
By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
The Cross River State government yesterday flagged off the state health insurance scheme, calling on residents of the state to key into the scheme.
At the flag off ceremony, which took place at Big Quo Primary Health Care Centre, Calabar, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Better Edu, called on the people of the state to get registered to enable them enjoy quality health care, that comes with registration in the scheme.
In her words, Edu said, “It has been a long journey, right from 2015, when we started working on the 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 to come out in your numbers and register for the state health insurance scheme. It is not a matter of delaying till when you 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 earlier remarks, the Director General of the State Primary Health Care Agency CR-PHCDA, Dr. Janet Ekpeyoung, stated that government alone cannot do everything in the health sector for the people, and therefore called on the people to key into the scheme.
She 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.”
The take off of the exercise was officially flag off by the wife of Cross River State governor, Dr. Mrs Linda Ayade, who lauded the efforts put in place to ensure the kick off the health insurance scheme.
Mrs Ayade said, “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,
“That is why you need the health insurance in place. I hereby officially flag-off this scheme today.”
