AyadeCare: Put Beneficiaries Above Others – Chairman, House Committee On Health Warns His Members

By Ogar Monday; House Of Assembly Correspondent

Hon. Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, Chairman Cross River State House Committee on Health, Social Welfare and Women Affairs has stated that the core implementation committee of the Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme owes Cross River State the responsibility of making sure the scheme works.

Bassey congratulated members of his Committee for their steadfastness and urged them to put the interest of those vulnerable persons who are supposed to benefit from the scheme above every other interest and concern.

The Chairman who was speaking during a meeting of the Committee at the Assembly mini-auditorium told members of the Committee that, “You have key important responsibilities to make sure the State Health Insurance Scheme works”.

He went on to reveal that something similar to State health insurance scheme had been done in the past but failed because of interests praying that the Committee make sure that they succeed this time.

Speaking to CrossRiverWatch after the meeting, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Insurance and License, Godwin Iyalla said that he is happy a step has been taken to kick start the scheme, saying “The Governor spoke passionately about his desire to make this work. He pledged his name on God, he pledged his ancestry and we will deliver on this”.

On his part, Sylvester Akande, Senior Health Finance Advisor, Health Finance Governance Project, USAID said that the State Health Insurance scheme is a bold step of the administration towards tackling health challenges as he expressed optimism that the process will be driven towards its actualization and be sustained.

He added that as technical partners to the State Government on the scheme, his organization is set to render all the technical support needed to actualize the project.

As part of the meeting, the Committee broke into sub-committees to interact with the necessary stakeholders and report back.

The Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme is a replica of the National Health Insurance Scheme with modifications expected to expand healthcare insurance to all and sundry in the State.