By Eval Asikong
Many researches have established highly positive correlation between health and wealth. Therefore, any society with the aspiration for wealth creation must be devoted to prioritize the people’s health-being. It is in appreciation of this that the Ben Ayade-led-administration’s topmost priority is skewed towards health, with several health programmes and intervention schemes running as evidence to this commitment. The administration has attracted many commendations for its aggressive reforms in health sector.
Pursuant to this lofty intents and sacred cause, there have been provisions of sound legislations like Ayadecare, the Primary Health Care Law and etc to revive and give life to the health sector in the state.
In furtherance of such commendations, the Executive Secretary of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Mr Usman Yusuf, when he paid a courtesy call in the office of the Health Commissioner last Thursday, had equally expressed excitement over the passion and commitment of Cross River State Core Implementation Team (CIT) headed by Dr Inyang Asibong, Commissioner for Health, Cross River State when compared with the experience in other states. He also lauded the courage demonstrated by His Excellency, Senator Prof Benedict Ayade in assenting to the bill which will be health care affordable and acceptable.
Mr Yusuf encourage CIT to engage in more advocacy visit to sensitize members of the state on the importance of the scheme, how it will go a long way to reduce financial burden on everyone as a result of paying for Health services.
Dr Yusuf added that it will reduce the level of poverty in the state and increase productivity in the state. He also promised to support the State in accessing all the available take off grant and technical support needed to achieve the success and sustainability of the scheme in the state.
Earlier in the opening remark, Hon Ekpo Ekpo Bassey who is the Chairman House Committee on Health and a member of Cross River State Core Implementation Team (CIT) who received the Executive Security in the absence of the Health Commissioner who was absent due to official assignment as the Chairman of the CIT gave credit to His Excellency, Senator Prof Benedict Ayade for His interest in improving the health of Cross Riverians by supporting the establishment of the state Health Insurance Scheme.
The Chairman House Committee on Health said his experience with the health care financial training at Lagos built his capacity, couple with the technical support from His Excellency, the Honorable Commissioner For Health and, other members of the health sector inspired him to sponsor the bill that is now a law establishing Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme.
Dr. Ekpo calls for support of NHIS to strengthen the State Government financially and technically for the sustainability of the scheme in Cross River State.
Eval Asikong is the Special Adviser to Governor Ben Ayade on Social Media