Cross River State government has reactivated the Health Insurance Scheme named, Ayadecare, which is compulsory for residents, especially civil servants to participate.
Director-General of Cross River Health Insurance Scheme, Godwin Iyala conducted the flag-off ceremony in Calabar Thursday.
The flag-off was significant to encourage formal sector enrolment in the scheme.
Iyala said the initiative was designed to bring about affordable and quality healthcare for residents in the state, and that each enrollee will contribute N1000 per month to the insurance scheme.
According to him, qualified personnel will render high-level services to the workers in the formal sector of the state.
“Universal health care is what the government intends, this is important because it helps workers put money back into their pocket instead of paying out of pocket.
“With N12, 000 annually, every enrolled worker in the state can secure care in the Primary Healthcare Centres, General Hospitals or the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) when the case arises,” he said.
Speaking, Head of Service in the state, Timothy Akwaji, said the scheme has a legal backing making it mandatory for all civil and public servants and the political class to benefit from the scheme at an affordable cost.
“With this formal enrollment ceremony, deductions of the sum of N1,000 monthly each from the enrollees will commence forthwith.”
State Coordinator of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Mrs Margaret Moffi advised the state government to set up a board for the agency as it would enable the scheme be run professionally and effectively.
