By Kelvin Obambon
Calabar, Nigeria – The Cross River State Health Insurance Agency (CRSHIA) has called on financially capable individuals to emulate Hon. Oden Ewa’s generosity by procuring health insurance for the poor and vulnerable members of the society.
Director General of CRSHIA, Dr Godwin Iyala, made the call in Calabar last Wednesday during the formal presentation of N18,000,000 cheque to the Agency by the Oden Ewa Foundation, being payment for one year of free health insurance coverage for 1,500 people in the central senatorial district of the state.
Commending the Foundation, Dr Iyala underscored the significance of the gesture, stating that “Today, 1,500 core poor and vulnerable lives are being given the opportunity to have free access to healthcare for the next year. This is a very commendable gesture. The coverage is unconditional. It will go a long way to help the 1,500 beneficiaries who are going to be the first in the phase.
“We want to thank the Honourable Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr Oden Ewa, who is the founder of Oden Ewa Foundation. The Foundation has adopted 1,500 lives to be domiciled in the central senatorial district. 250 beneficiaries in each of the six local government areas – that is, Yakurr, Abi, Obubra, Etung, Ikom and Boki, in the first instance. We are appreciative of this. This is the way to go. Government alone cannot shoulder all the responsibilities if individuals don’t get up to assist government.”
The DG went further to state that Oden Ewa’s gesture reflects the policy thrust of Governor Bassey Otu-led administration which prioritises the people.
According to him, “The purposeful government of Prince Bassey Otu has placed the health of the people as his priority. I will use this opportunity to call on other individuals to toe the path of the Oden Ewa Foundation. Together everyone achieves more. In the health ecosystem, we say more money for health, and more health for the money.”
He said that from next Monday, CRSHIA officials would go to the field to capture the beneficiaries and issue them identification cards to enable them access to free healthcare in primary and tertiary health facilities.
He pledged the Agency’s commitment towards the success of social health insurance in Cross River, adding that “The spirit of Universal Health Coverage is to get from the strong to take care of the weak, to get from the rich to take care of the poor.”
In their separate remarks, the state coordinator of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Stanley Efah; CRSHIA board member, Ben Arikpo; and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, lauded the Oden Ewa Foundation for the kind gesture, while calling on well-meaning individuals to key into the Adopt Lives Initiative to improve the health and wellbeing of the less privileged.
Responding on behalf of the Oden Ewa Foundation, Dr Ofem Usani, described the flag-off of the 1,500 premium health insurance package for the central senatorial district as a groundbreaking initiative which the Foundation would work towards its sustenance.
“This initiative is a direct investment in the wellbeing of our people. The state of wellness of our people, either mentally, psychologically or emotionally cannot be compromised.
“This singular gesture is a testament to the unwavering commitment to what the governor is out to do. We are sincerely grateful to His Excellency the Governor for providing an enabling environment where policy of this nature can thrive,” he said.
On his part, Adewale Adebowale, Group Head, Government Banking, Sterling Bank Consortium, said the bank would continue to partner with CRSHIA to enable it to deliver on its mandate.
He stressed the impact of poor health on household finance and businesses, stating that for this and many other reasons Sterling Bank would offer more support to the Agency so that it can effectively tackle health challenges among the populace.