The Cross River State Health Insurance Agency (CRSHIA) has commended the Head of Service of Cross River State, Mr. Orok Bassey Okon, Esq., for leading by example after presenting himself for enrollment into the State Health Insurance Scheme during today’s (Friday) aerobics session at the main bowl of the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar.
Reacting to the development, the Director-General of CRSHIA, Chief Godwin Iyala, described the Head of Service’s public enrollment as a strong demonstration of confidence in the scheme and a significant boost to the state’s drive towards achieving Universal Health Coverage.
Iyala said the gesture would encourage greater participation by workers in the formal sector and residents in the informal sector, noting that leadership commitment remains critical to building public trust and ensuring the success of health insurance programmes.
“The Head of Service has demonstrated leadership by example. This singular act is a confidence booster that will encourage workers in both the formal and informal sectors to buy into the health insurance scheme,” Dr. Iyala said.
According to him, the enrollment exercise, which commenced with Mr. Orok Bassey Okon as the first enrollee, represents another milestone in the agency’s efforts to expand health insurance coverage and guarantee access to affordable and quality healthcare services for residents of the state.
He stressed that health insurance provides a reliable safety net against the financial burden associated with healthcare needs, urging civil servants, business owners, artisans, farmers and other residents to key into the scheme.
Dr Iyala urged all civil servants in the State to urgently key into the Health Insurance Scheme by enrolling into the programme to enable them access the benefits of the Health Insurance scheme.
The CRSHIA Director-General reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to sustaining awareness campaigns and strengthening partnerships aimed at increasing enrollment across Cross River State, expressing optimism that wider participation would accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage.
By Kingsley Agim
