*"Universal Health Coverage; Gov. Ayade To Flag Off BHCPF And Enrollment For The SHIS On March 9"*

The push for CRS to attain Universal Health Coverage reaches zenith as all efforts to achieve this giant stride has now been put in place by the cross river state government through the Health Ministry and the State Health Insurance Agency. This is to ensure that everyone who resides in CRS irrespective of tribe, gender, age, financial status, religion, etc gets equitable access to free and quality health care services.

Speaking in this regards, the State Commissioner for Health Dr Betta Edu during a final planning meeting with the Director General of the CRSHIA, DG primary Health Care and team has assured cross riverians that come March 9th, the long awaited scheme which was signed into Law in 2016 will be flagged off by the Executive Governor of CRS Sen Prof Ben Ayade alongside the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).

In her words; "again I thank Sen Prof Ben Ayade for his support and fatherly role in bringing a health revolution in our dear State, he's been proactive and very supportive. This exercise was scheduled to take place last year but was interrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak, the bill was signed in 2016 and since then all efforts to get started has been hindered by one challenge or another but am glad that we have overcome and we are ready to fly. Come 9th of March, the Governor's vision which is to achieve Universal Health Coverage where everyone be it the old, young, poor, vulnerable, etc will have access to quality health care services without any form of out of pocket payment will be achieved.

"The idea behind this drive according to His Excellency is to ensure that a stronger brother offers his shoulder for his weaker brother to lean on. We will all put our income/resources together and access quality medical care well deserving of us. Access to this medical services comes 3months after the State enrollment while LGA enrollment will commence immediately after the State enrollment exercise."

The Director General of the Cross River State Health Insurance Agency Chief Goddy Iyala on his part thanked Sen Prof Ben Ayade for this vision and support while commending the Commissioner for Health Dr Betta Edu for her commitment and push to ensure this is achieved in her time, he charged every one involved in this exercise to give out their all as a threshold of history is about to be made by Sen Ben Ayade and everyone else involved in this will be remembered for it. "This is a vision of Sen Ben Ayade and we won't let it die, we all must join our hands together and make history so we'll be remembered for this giant achievement. I can't thank less the honorable commissioner for health and her team for this great support and achievement as she has proven again that she's never an associate of failure."

While the first 1,000 persons to get to the stadium for the event on Tuesday the 9th day of March, 2021 will get one free T-shirt and a face cap, they'll also be enrolled for the exercise by paying a thousand naira per Month as Elites/political leaders can as well register their own people. The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) alongside the State Health Insurance Scheme flag off exercise will be done by the Executive Governor of CRS Sen Prof Ben Ayade on the 9th day of March, 2021 at the U.J Esuene Stadium by 9am prompt.