By Onwa Ekor
The South-South Development Commission (SSDC) has flagged off the enrolment of 1,666 vulnerable persons into the health insurance scheme in Cross River.
The beneficiaries, comprising women, children and the elderly, are drawn from hard-to-reach and riverine communities across the state.
Speaking at the flag-off in Calabar yesterday, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of SSDC, Ms. Usoro Offiong Akpabio, said the scheme was designed to remove financial barriers to healthcare for the poor.
Akpabio, who was represented by the Executive Director, Human Capital Development and Social Services, Engr. Preye Aganaba, said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s mandate to the Commission to drive human capital development in the South-South.
“We thank President Tinubu for entrusting us with a mandate to advance human capital development. Today, we are putting that mandate into practice by helping people who face financial barriers get the healthcare they need,” she said.
She noted that cost and distance often force families in riverine communities to delay treatment, stressing that good health is fundamental to development.
She commended the governor, Prince Bassey Otu, for strengthening primary healthcare and expanding health insurance coverage, and lauded the Director-General of the Cross River Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Godwin Iyala, for the partnership.
The MD charged implementation teams to ensure transparency in the process.
“Every enrolment slot must go to an eligible person who genuinely needs the support. Verify each beneficiary, prevent duplicate enrolments and deliberately reach underserved communities,” she directed.
Also speaking, SSDC Executive Director, Finance, Amb. Soni Abang, said the Commission would go beyond insurance to supply drugs, medical equipment, and renovate and construct health facilities.
“A healthy citizenry drives productivity, the economy and security,” he said, adding that the Commission would also intervene in agriculture, professional training and scholarships.
In his remarks, Vice Chairman of the State Planning Commission, Dr. Bong Duke, described the enrolment as a milestone that aligns with Otu’s people-first agenda.
“The figure represents 1,666 brothers and sisters who have been economically excluded, physically challenged and socially marginalized, now identified, verified and prioritized for coverage,” Duke said.
He urged beneficiaries and community leaders to ensure the cards translate to actual healthcare visits.
“The cards must translate into hospital visits and healthier families. Beneficiaries must use the scheme, ask questions and hold the system accountable,” he said.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, said the state would monitor and sustain the gains, assuring that funds from the programme would be judiciously utilized.
“We see this not as a donation, but as resources to be realized, sustained, monitored and validated,” Ayuk stated.
Earlier, Director-General of the Cross River Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Godwin Iyala, said the scheme requires collective effort, “with the strong offering a shoulder for the weak to lean on.”
Iyala disclosed that enrollees would access care across primary, secondary and tertiary levels, and commended the SSDC and Dr. Ekpo Bassey who sponsored the law establishing the agency.
Highpoints of the event were the live enrolment of beneficiaries, presentation of insurance cards and unveiling of the partnership banner between the state health agency and SSDC.
