Health insurance must come before politics- Cross River Speaker

Mr Elvert Ayambem, Speaker of the Cross River House of Assembly, on Thursday emphasised that the Cross River Health Insurance Scheme must be prioritised for citizens ahead of political considerations.

Ayambem said this during a two-day capacity building workshop for the governing boards and management staff of the Cross River and Ebonyi Health Insurance Agencies (CRSHIA and ESHIA) in Calabar.

He was represented by Mr Hilary Bisong, Chairman of the House Committee on Health.

The speaker stressed that Cross River must establish a healthcare structure that was resilient to political interference and driven by compassion, evidence, and results.

“Let me say this clearly and without apology: a health insurance system must never be politicised because health is life, and life is sacred.

“The job of government is to protect that life,” he said.

Ayambem reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for legislative reforms that would strengthen CRSHIA, enhance healthcare financing, and guarantee the institutional independence of the state’s health insurance system.

He further stated that healthcare was not a privilege but a fundamental right, and the manner in which it was upheld reflected the core values of government and society.

According to him, the Cross River Health Insurance Scheme is a bold step toward achieving Universal Health Coverage but must be reinforced by strong systems and visionary leadership.

“We must challenge ourselves to think beyond paperwork and bureaucracy, and to build a people-centered system that outlives political cycles,” he added.

To achieve this, he called for community ownership, fair and scalable financing, digital transformation, transparent leadership structures, and continuous professional development.

Also speaking, the Director General of CRSHIA, Mr Godwin Iyala, highlighted the agency’s progress and its emerging role as a hub for cross-national health insurance innovations.

He expressed gratitude to Gov. Bassey Out, for his commitment to making Cross River a reference point in health insurance coverage across Nigeria.

Iyala encouraged participants to apply insights from the workshop to further develop the agency.

Similarly, Ms. Elizabeth Ogbaga, Chairperson of the Ebonyi Health Insurance Agency, said the workshop offered a valuable opportunity for both states to exchange ideas on improving health insurance delivery.

She noted that both states faced similar challenges, particularly high maternal and infant mortality rates, and stressed the need for joint efforts to reduce the incidents significantly.

Our correspondent reports that the two-day workshop, which began on June 4, concluded on June 5.