The Rivers State Government has received praise for its growing achievements in the health sector. The Rivers State Chairman of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and board member of the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Otaraku Oye, gave the commendation during a goodwill message at the opening of a two-day workshop in Port Harcourt on Monday, November 24, 2025.
The workshop was organised to review the RIVCHPP benefit package. It also focuses on updating the referral management handbook.
Oye highlighted that, while health workers nationwide are currently on strike, JOHESU in Rivers State opted not to participate. He attributed this decision to the state government’s commitment and visible improvements in the health sector.
In her welcome address, Dr. Vetty Agala, Executive Secretary of RIVCHPP, stated that the workshop aims to enhance the benefit package and develop a comprehensive handbook. She urged participants to use their expertise to create a document that would improve service delivery and help enrollees better understand their entitlements.
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Dr. Agala commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, for enrolling health workers into the programme as part of their welfare package.
Dr. Barinem Dimkpa, Head of Health Services at RIVCHPP, provided an overview of the review. He described the exercise as crucial to improving transparency, clarifying referral processes, and aligning the programme with national and international standards.
Goodwill messages were delivered by Dr. Simene Sangha, Rivers State Lead of the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), who pledged continued technical support. Dr. Tarfa Kene, National President of the Association of Public Health Physicians, expressed confidence that the workshop would produce a model document for other states.
The workshop, facilitated by Prof. Omosivie Maduka of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, included presentations and breakout discussions. These interactive sessions allowed participants to share insights and collaboratively strengthen the programme
