More than 500 people have been selected as beneficiaries of a free medical insurance cover in the northern senatorial district of Cross River State, southern Nigeria.
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The free medical insurance cover, which is expected to last for one year, was sponsored by the senator representing the northern senatorial district of Cross River State, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe.
Senator Jarigbe provided the health insurance cover under the “JariCare Health Insurance Initiative significant designed to improve access to quality services in five local government areas of Bekwara, Obanliku, Obudu, Ogoja and Yala.
A beneficiary, Mrs. Martina Ogar expressed appreciation to Senator Jarigbe for the insurance cover saying “a good thing like this coming at a time when we are experiencing serious hardship will save many lives.”
Another beneficiary, a retired civil servant, Joseph Odey, expressed heartfelt gratitude noting, “this is a timely intervention that will alleviate the financial burden on us and provide the much-needed medical security we need.”
Unhindered access
Jarigbe, who was represented by the Chief Executive Officer of Dazzle Empowerment Initiative, a non-profit organisation, Esther Ellah said that the one year insurance cover would provide the 500 beneficiaries unhindered access to quality medical care, ensuring that beneficiaries receive essential health services without financial hardship.
According to Senator Jarigbe, the gesture was also to ensure people at the grassroots patronize government owned health facilities rather than resort to self-medication due to high cost of essential health services at the community level.
While urging the people to value the health insurance cover, Jarigbe explained the importance of proper enrollment and need to ensure the identity card remained secured as a means to access free services through the year, warning that his gesture should not be politicized.
He stated, “healthcare is not a privilege; it is a fundamental right. While politics plays a role in governance, true leadership is measured by direct impact on people’s lives. This initiative is about securing health and dignity not political gains.”
The Director General of the Cross River State Health Insurance Agency, Godwin Iyala expressed Admiration for what he described as ‘Senator Jarigbe’s unwavering dedication to public health.”
Iyala hinted that the intervention aligned significantly with the ‘People First’ mantra of the governor, Senator Bassey Otu’s, who was dedicated to upliftment of the living standard of citizens especially those within rural areas.
He further hinted that the agency would deploy its monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure the beneficiaries truly access quality and affordable healthcare services at any government owned facilities they selected.
The Medical Superintendent of the General Hospital in Ogoja where the cheque was formally handed over to the insurance agency, Dr. Christopher Ugbe enjoined the political class to emulate the legislator’s gesture.
Ugbe noted that the initiative would positively transform and bridge the access to healthcare services gap as well as strengthening the healthcare sector.
He assured of the commitment alongside other healthcare professionals to provide quality medical services.
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