The wife of the Cross River State governor, Mrs. Eyoanwan Otu has made a significant contribution to people’s quality of life by paying two years of health insurance for five hundred elderly citizens.
Mrs. Otu, who christened the project ‘Mma Adiaha Cares’ health insurance scheme, said that the initiative was aimed at achieving universal health coverage in Cross River State, southern Nigeria.
She further stated that by providing the insurance cover, the beneficiaries would be able to access any health facility of their choice across all eighteen local government areas to receive the medical care they need.
“It gives me hope, joy, fulfilment, and accomplishment when I see people people smiling because they are in good health. It gives me greater joy, particularly when I am involved in making them happy. After all, humanity is caring, sharing, and loving.
“It is actually a legacy I am leaving for our people, and my prayer is that more people follow in my footsteps. I have paid health insurance for five hundred senior citizens. I need them to walk into any health facility of their choice to access medical services,” Otu noted.
Speaking further, the wife of the Cross River governor said, “Paying for insurance is one sure way of ensuring that the vulnerable can easily access healthcare. I also do not hesitate to pay for surgeries, too, where necessary. It is my hope that we would provide affordable healthcare to all our people.”
Humanitarian gesture
Earlier, the Director General of the Cross River State Health Insurance Agency (CRSHIA), Sir Godwin Iyala, described the enrolment of 500 elderly on the scheme as a humanitarian gesture worthy of emulation.
Iyala stated, “The wife of the governor has paid Twelve thousand naira (₦12,000.00) only a person for 2 years. Do the math! We charge one thousand naira monthly, and for the 12 months, it is ₦12,000 only per individual. So, providing health insurance cover for 500 people for the next 2 years is worthy of emulation.”
On the number of people enrolled on the scheme since its inception during the previous administration, the Director General stated that more than 70,000 people have been registered in Cross River State and more citizens are expected to key into the scheme with the Nigerian Government’s Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) 2.0.
He commended other individuals, such as the senator representing the northern senatorial district of Cross River State, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Oden Ewa, as well as the Chairman of Akpabuyo local government area, Mr. Effiom Bassey Effiong for following in the footsteps of Mrs. Eyoanwan Otu.
He used the opportunity to urge other political office holders and good spirited individuals and private organisations to key into the scheme, saying “we always encourage anyone especially kindhearted persons to adopt a life to save a life and health insurance is the way to go.”
Climax of the launching was the decoration of the wife of the governor as the brand ambassador of the Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme to deepen the sensitisation campaign and enlightenment for more people to embrace the programme.
The enrollment of the senior citizens into the insurance scheme was launched at the General Hospital in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, southern Nigeria, marking an important step towards better healthcare for the elderly community.