Kelvin Obambon|3 March 2018
The Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Cross River state on Health Insurance, Chief Godwin Iyala, has called for increased awareness on the state runned health insurance scheme/AyadeCare which would soon be fully operational under the management and coordination of Cross River State Health Insurance Agency NegroidHaven can say.
He made this call at a Two-day media review workshop on the role of media and civil society organizations, CSOs, in achieving universal health coverage, UHC, held on the 1st and 2nd of March, 2018 at the conference room of Cross River State Geographic Information Agency, Calabar.
The workshop which was organized by the state ministry of health in collaboration with Cross River State Ministry of Information and Orientation, Ministry of ICT and Cross River State Health Insurance Agency, with support from USAID, drew participants from the media, CSOs, international partners and donor agencies, who all brainstormed and deliberated extensively on the way-forward in achieving universal health coverage, UHC, in Cross River State, using health insurance as a roadmap.
Participants at the workshop, which focused on the role of media and CSOs in achieving universal health coverage, observed that health insurance is a vehicle par excellence for the attainment of UHC, and therefore advocated the need for more awareness to be created on existing health insurance policies and programmes of Sen.(Prof.) Ben Ayade-led administration so as to enable the people benefit fully from them.
In his contribution, the SA on health insurance, explained that Cross River State health insurance scheme/AyadeCare is organized in such a way that enrolees get more value compare to their little contributions to the scheme. He also stated that actuarial analysis will be used to determine premium to be paid by senior and junior staff cadres in the civil service, saying the method is aimed at ensuring equality and fairness, whereby those who earn higher income do not pay the same amount as those on lower salaries, nevertheless, both categories will have access to the same quality healthcare services.
Chief Iyala decried the low level of awareness on Cross River State health insurance scheme/AyadeCare among residents of the state, even as he maintained that the scheme is still at its pilot stage. He therefore called on participants to synergize and create more awareness on the benefits of health insurance, while anticipating the full flag off of AyadeCare soon.
While urging pregnant women, nursing mothers and other vulnerable groups to enrol en mass for the scheme, the SA disclosed that quality healthcare services under the state health insurance scheme, also known as AyadeCare, will be highly subsidized so much that even poor farmers in rural communities can afford the scheme.
Speaking further, he revealed that AyadeCare is not discriminatory as it is designed to cater for all those who are resident in Cross River State, irrespective of state of origin, religion or political affiliation. He however used the occasion to appeal for support and funding from groups, corporate bodies and international donor agencies, noting that the financial position of Cross River State compare to its population leaves much gap which support and funding can fill. He also argued that with more funds at hand, a lot can be achieved through Cross River State health insurance scheme/AyadeCare, as it will bring the state closer to achieving universal health coverage for all.
In attendance were the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Barr.(Mrs) Rosemary Archibong, permanent secretary of the ministry, Mr Ayi Henshaw Jnr and officials from state ministries of health and ICT respectively as well as designated Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
Kelvin Obambon
Writes from Calabar
