*"18,000 Cross Riverians Registered under AyadeCare Health insurance scheme begins to Access Healthcare from today as Dr Linda Ayade flag-off Access to clinical services"*

Finally Cross River state Primary and secondary Health Facilities have open their doors to begin the delivery of Health Care Services to Members of thePublic who have registered for the StateHealth Insurance Scheme and have collected their verifiable cards.

Health Insurance comes with a huge benefit ranging from the provision of access to quality, accessible and affordable healthcare for all residents of CRS, to protecting residents from financial hardship associated with huge medical bills as well as minimizing out of pocket expenses at the point of accessing care with a standard and improved healthcare services for all. This is the vision and drive of Sen Prof. Ben Ayade when he signed the Health insurance bill into law in 2016. 5years down history is made today as the AyadeCare has finally been activated with over 18,000 registered people to start accessing health care immediately.

Speaking during the flagging off exercise, Her Excellency Dr. Linda Ayade commended the efforts of the health team under the leadership of Dr. Betta Edu for making this day a reality. "I cannot wait to see and hear people begin to speak of the benefit of the care they have received under the scheme”. We pray God to continue to give us the vision to always do more for our people as their Health care needs remain our priority always. Today history has been made by Dr. Betta Edu, Chief Godwin Iyala, Dr Janet Ekpenyong, Dr David Ushie and everyone in the health sector as well as partners. Your names are written in gold, We can't thank you enough for this giant stride."

On her part, the Health Commissioner Dr Betta Edu thanked Governor Ben Ayade and his dear wife Dr. Linda Ayade for their efforts towards making this dream a reality. She stressed that the scheme will reduce out of pocket expenditure, help the State achieve Universal Health Coverage and cover even the poorest of the poor using the Basic Health Care Provision Funds.

"State Health Insurance Scheme will provide care and succor for the poor, the aged, the less privilege and the vulnerable, with 12,000 Naira in a year you can have access to health care services. The most Beautiful part of this Insurance is the innovative touch of humane succor which will be the first of its kind in Nigeria. With no money you can walk into health facilities to access care, cross riverians will become monthly millionaires amongst other benefits. I call on all health workers, medical superintendents, facility heads, focal persons, etc to put in their best to provide these services to cross riverians while calling on everyone to come out and register as care will be given after 90days of registration. Let me Thank all our partners, the labour union, health workers and all stakeholders for the support and synergy so far."

The DG; Cross River State Health Insurance Agency, Sir Godwin Iyala stated that the program which has kick started is to address healthcare challenges in the State aimed at providing a functional medical insurance cover. "With N12,000 only at N1,000 per Month, you have access to all kinds of healthcare services for a whole year and there will be no other hidden charges as this scheme is built to save cost and offer quality health care services to all cross riverians who have been registered into this scheme. Let me call on cross riverians to hold politicians to insure their health by enrolling them into the scheme if they must get their votes."

Dr Janet Ekpeyong, DG CRSPHCDA assured cross riverians that the Scheme is the most sustainable way to finance health as government alone cannot sustain the health system if we must achieve Universal Health Coverage. She stressed that the less privilege and even the vulnerable must be able to access care under this scheme while assuring cross riverians of more commitment on the part of the health workers.

The Paramount Ruler of Calabar South Muri Prof. Itam Hogan Itam who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers commended the efforts of the Health Commissioner Dr Betta Edu for her efficiency and hard work that has today brought this long awaited dream to a reality. "While i call for more transparency and accountability, I want to express my happiness that this huge success is recorded under the watch of Dr. Betta Edu and Chief Iyala. Let me thank Sen. Ben Ayade for this giant stride as I'll end by soliciting that a monitoring team that will have paramount rulers as members be set up to monitor the progress of this scheme.

The Special Adviser to Governor on health Dr David Ushie thanked the State Government for giving cross riverians a soft landing to safe medical cost through the introduction of the health insurance scheme, he applauded the efforts of the workaholic health commissioner Dr Betta Edu for who made this a reality,He called on cross riverians to get registered and benefit from this opportunity.

Highlights of the event was the inspection of the health facility by Her Excellency, speech by Labour NLC chairman Mr Ben Ukpepi, WHO state Coordinator andKNCV. Services like Covid-19 vaccination, TB test amongst others were done.

Registration can be done in CRSHIA Office, Online, USSD Code, All LGA Headquarters as care can be accessed in all Accredited PHCs with referrals to be made when and where necessary to the General Hospitals and secondary care

Clowns... nothing works in that state

Like your brains