Cross River Solicits Media Partnership For Effective Deployment Of State Health Insurance Scheme

By Ogar Monday Follow @ogar_monday

The Cross River State government says the media has a critical role to play in ensuring the successful implementation of its social health insurance scheme.

The flag off of the scheme tagged “Ayadecare” has been postponed severally.

And, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Orientation in the state, Dr. Rosemary Archibong while speaking at a two day media review meeting on the role of the media and civil society organisations in achieving Universal Health Coverage in the state on Thursday sued for Cross Riverian to buy into the insurance scheme and reap from the many benefits it contains.

She said the essence of the scheme is to provide succor for those who cannot afford to do so by taking from those who have many and giving to those who have little and sued for the media to help in promoting the scheme.

The special adviser to the state government on Insurance, Mr. Godwin Iyala explained the connectivity between the insurance scheme and the attainment of Universal Health Coverage which according to him is a sustainable path to tow.

On the media’s role, Iyala averred that this cannot be underestimated as the difference between trust in the scheme and it being shrouded in doubts lies on how the media decides to portray the scheme.

He said the angle of reportage by journalists covering the sub sector will go a long way to make it succeed or doom it on arrival and stressed that the scheme will put back money in the pockets of subscribers and provide access to quality healthcare and services.

Mr. Iyala maintained that the state has been receiving accolades for its pioneering role in the country, as other states have tapped into the idea due to the limitation of the National Health Insurance Scheme.

This comes barely 24 hours after other stakeholders in the health sector solicited the support of media practitioners to ensure people get immunized.

And, participants at the training expressed the need for continuous engagement with them and the need for the agency coordinating the scheme to run an open door policy and quickly work towards the improvement of the state health facilities.