Efio-Ita Nyok|9 August 2017
The Cross River State Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong, has assured both indigenes and residents of the state that the much-talked-about health insurance scheme of the state, AYADECARE, when fully implemented towards the end of this year, won't strain their already-lean resources particularly those of women, children and vulnerable population NegroidHaven can authoritatively report.
Commissioner Asibong made this known at Transcorp Hotels, Calabar, Tuesday, while addressing Nigerians on the second day of the maiden edition of the Cross River State Inaugural Health Summit organised by her ministry, tagged: 'Translating Health Policies and Plans into Action.' Dr Asibong also said that the state is leading in the implementation of the state health insurance scheme across the 36 states of Nigeria. She promised to make the Cross River the envy of other state in this regard.
Her words, 'The Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme, AYADECARE will be fully implemented within the last quarter of the year to ensure the availability of quality health services without straining the purse of citizens and especially women, children and the vulnerable population.
'The State is currently leading the chart in the implementation of the state health insurance scheme implementation in the Country, we will become a model for others to follow', she continued.
Dr Asibong also noted that, in the attempt to bring health care closer to the masses, while creating employment opportunities, AYADECARE Specialist Hospital will be built across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state: 'The proposed AYADECARE specialist referral hospital which would be built across all the eighteen LGAs of the state will bring quality healthcare closer to the people and among other things create employment opportunities'.
Dr Asibong also highlighted some of the health policies of the state according to which her ministry would take health services to the nook and crannies of the State —PHC Under One Roof, Multi-year Operational Plan (MyOP), Revitalised PHC etc.
According to her, 'We intend to provide health services at nooks and crannies of the State, we have our revitalized PHCs. This is in line with the Sustainable Development Goal 3(SDG3) to ensure Universal health Coverage by 2030.
'We have an evidence-based Multi-year Operational Plan (MyOP) in place to achieve 100% PHC revitalization in the State and we have achieved PHC under one roof with a vibrant head, board and motivated staff of the Agency. We plead for support of donors and development partners to help us in this regard.
Present at the occasion was Nigeria's Minister for Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, the chair of Senate Committee on Health Sen. Lanre Tejuosho, Rt. Hon. Essien Ayi of the House of Representatives, representatives from CUSO, UNFPA, Speaker of the 8th Cross River State House of Assembly John Gaul Lebo, Permanent Secretary of Cross River State Ministry of Health Joseph Adim Bassey, Special Assistant on Health Insurance to the Governor of Cross River State Chief Goddy Iyala and the Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency Dr Betta Edu, beauty pageants across the state, traditional rulers, stakeholders in the health sector, WHO Country Representative Dr Wondi Alemu, Pathfinder, Marie Stopes, UNFPA, Nestle, GE, HFG, SFH, HSDF, and other dignitaries were all present.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger, the Editor & Publisher of NegroidHaven
