Cross River State Enhances Ebola Surveillance and Insurance

Cross River State has intensified its Ebola surveillance efforts following a fresh alert from the Federal Ministry of Health regarding cases in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Dr.

Henri Egb Ayuk, the State Commissioner for Health, announced that the state is adopting serious preventive measures to ensure rapid detection and response to suspected Ebola cases. The Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) is currently on alert mode, with health authorities closely monitoring travel from affected countries.

Additionally, stakeholders in Nigeria's health insurance sector are advocating for mandatory health insurance coverage for residents to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) and reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. This was discussed at the maiden National Summit on Social Health Insurance held in Akure, Ondo State, where participants identified challenges such as high healthcare costs and low insurance penetration.

Dr. Godwin Iyala, Director General of the Cross River State Health Insurance Agency, emphasized the importance of expanding health insurance coverage and improving service delivery.