By Abasi Ita
In a determined efforts aimed at promoting universal health coverage, the World Health Organization WHO has pledged to offer technical and manpower support to ensure that the Cross River State Health Insurance Agency function optimally.
According to the state Coordinator of WHO in Cross,Dr Yewande Olatunde, “the robust synergy with the Cross River Health Insurance Agency to enable the agency attain set objectives in ensuring affordable and accessible quality care for the people’
The WHO Coordinator in Cross River State Dr Yewande Olatunde, who gave the assurance during a visit to the Health Insurance Agency Headquarters in Calabar, aveered is in the state to” lend support to relevant MDAs within the health sector towards the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC)”
Dr Olatunde lamented that despite global calls for increased funding for the health sector in the country, Nigeria has never dedicated ten percent (10%) of its annual budget toward financing healthcare.
She revealed that her visit was meant to explore areas of mutual cooperation with a view of repositioning the State Health Insurance Agency to guarantee affordability of quality healthcare as well as universal health coverage in the state.
The WHO official implored the Agency to develop a template for technical support and cooperation to serve as a road map for WHO intervention intended to rejuvenate the Agency.
According to Olatinde” The WHO is disposed to supporting the scheme especially in the area of technical and manpower needs to ensure that quality healthcare service is affordable and accessible to residents of the state”
“Therefore, necessary machineries must be put in place to ensure that the Health Insurance Agency function effectively and efficiently to guarantee attainment of set targets” She posited.
Responding, the Director General of Cross River State Health Insurance Agency (CRSHIA), Dr. Godwin Iyala, expressed appreciation to the WHO Coordinator and her team for the to visit and promised to avail her of Agency’s critical areas of need.
He disclosed that the Agency is poised to provide extended social health insurance in terms of access to quality and affordable healthcare for residents of the state.
“We assure you that CRSHIA would make judicious use of potential aids received from WHO, all in the bid to improve healthcare accessibility for the betterment of Cross Riverians,” Iyala opined.