Cross River moves to capture one million indigenes in health scheme

The Cross River State Government is to capture one million indigenes in the Ayadecare insurance scheme next year.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Beta Edu, dropped the hint yesterday while addressing newsmen in Calabar.

Ayadecare health scheme was signed into law and inaugurated by Governor Ben Ayade in 2016.

The commissioner said the state would also award N1 million to anybody that could register up to 10 persons monthly.

She noted that the idea was part of efforts to engender positive agenda setting in the health sector in 2020.

Beta said: “We intend to renovate, equip and bring doctors and healthcare workers on locum basis, employ some permanently into the service, employ house officers and collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health and teaching hospitals for their postings at our general hospitals.

“We intend to integrate the whole health sector, including all the agencies therein, and help them to function effectively in areas they are lagging behind.”

She went on: “ All is an effort to provide effective and efficient healthcare for all as well as universal health coverage irrespective of gender, tribe and age. As long as you reside in Cross River, we want to give easy access to quality healthcare to all.

“We want to ensure the general hospitals regain their lost glory as well as complete the three specialist hospitals and Calapharm that would produce essential medicines.

“We want to take quality healthcare to our people and we have also created a platform to make millionaires emerge, as anyone who registers 10 people in a month will be eligible to go home with N1 million in a draw. This is part of efforts to encourage Cross Riverians and empower the vulnerable and poor people.”