Cross River State Governor Prof Ben Ayade has approved the deduction of N1,000 monthly from workers’ salaries for the Cross River Health Insurance Scheme known as Ayadecare.
The State Government on Thursday flagged off the formal sector enrollment into the scheme six years after its introduction in 2016 when the government signed into law a bill that set up the Cross River Health Insurance Agency.
The Director-General, Cross River Health Insurance Scheme, Godwin Iyala, said at the event that the scheme would enable residents of the state to have access to affordable and quality healthcare.
According to Iyala, qualified personnel has been engaged to give top-notch service to the workers in the formal sector of the state.
“Universal health care is what the government intends, this is important because it helps workers put money back into their pockets instead of paying out of pocket.
“With N12, 000 annually, every enrolled worker in the state can secure care in the Primary Healthcare Centres, General Hospitals or the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) when the case arises,” he said.
Also speaking, Cross River Head of Service, Timothy Akwaji, said with legal backing, the scheme is mandatory for all civil/public servants and the political class and designed to provide health care to all at an affordable cost.
“With this formal enrollment ceremony, deductions of the sum of N1,000 monthly each from the enrollees will commence forthwith.
“The deduction which has been approved by the governor and critical stakeholders including the organised labour, have taken due appraisal and granted approval considering enormous benefits to members,” he said.
State Coordinator of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Mrs Margaret Moffi, commended the state government for the scheme, adding that it was long overdue, and advised the government to create a board for the agency so that the scheme could be run professionally and effectively.
Some workers who spoke about the scheme said the scheme has not been inactive since its introduction, adding that the mandatory enrollment was just another political gimmick that may not be sustained.
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