Cross River Health Insurance Scheme Saves Young Woman’s Life with Critical Surgeries
By Ebi COLLINS
The Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme has once again proven its impact, enabling Cynthia Osam, a young woman from Iyamoyong in Obubra Local Government Area, to undergo two life-saving surgeries at no cost to her family.
The surgeries, performed by Dr. Ekon Francis at General Hospital Obubra, highlight the effectiveness of the state’s strengthened healthcare system in providing quality medical care, regardless of financial status.
Dr. Francis described the health insurance scheme as one of the government’s most transformative initiatives, shielding citizens from exorbitant medical expenses while granting them access to essential treatments, preventive care, prescription medications, and emergency services.
He emphasized that the scheme not only ensures access to critical surgeries but also covers maternity care, mental health services, and catastrophic medical expenses that could otherwise push families into financial ruin. According to him, the program is a game-changer, offering peace of mind and dignity to enrollees by guaranteeing affordable and reliable healthcare.
Cynthia Osam’s condition was dire—she had been diagnosed with acute appendicitis and degenerated fibroids, both requiring urgent surgical intervention. Thanks to the health insurance scheme, she was able to receive the life-saving procedures without delay.
“We had a patient suffering from acute appendicitis and degenerated fibroids. The surgeries were successful,” Dr. Francis confirmed, stressing that the state’s health insurance program was instrumental in ensuring timely medical attention.
He further urged the government to continue expanding health insurance coverage, emphasizing that more lives could be saved if every Cross Riverian had access to quality healthcare as a right, not a privilege.
For Cynthia’s mother, Mrs. Cecelia Osam, the experience was overwhelming. She expressed deep gratitude to Governor Bassey Otu for prioritizing healthcare accessibility and commended Commissioner Oden Ewa for enrolling her daughter in the scheme. Without this intervention, she admitted, the cost of the surgeries would have been beyond their reach.
Reacting to the success story, the Director General of the Cross River State Health Insurance Agency, Chief Godwin Iyala, described it as a welcome development and urged well-meaning individuals to invest in the healthcare needs of the less privileged. He expressed optimism that more families would benefit from the program as increasing numbers of individuals and organizations step forward to sponsor enrollees.
The success of Cynthia Osam’s surgeries reinforces the Cross River State Government’s unwavering commitment to making quality healthcare accessible and affordable. With more residents enrolling in the health insurance scheme, the initiative continues to bridge healthcare gaps, ensuring that even the most vulnerable populations receive the medical attention they deserve.
