The Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) has renewed its drive to make Rivers State the leading state in Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria, following assurances of support from the Head of Service, Rivers State, Dr. (Mrs) Inyingi Brown.
This commitment was reaffirmed on Wednesday, January 14, 2025, when the management of RIVCHPP, led by its Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Vetty Agala, paid a courtesy visit to the Head of Service at the State Secretariat Complex, Port Harcourt.
Speaking during the visit, Dr. Agala commended Dr. Brown for her leadership and sustained efforts in ensuring a conducive and supportive working environment for civil servants across the state, including staff of RIVCHPP.
She noted that the progress recorded by the agency was largely driven by the encouragement and institutional backing received from the Office of the Head of Service.
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Dr. Agala assured that RIVCHPP would remain committed to transparency, accountability and results-driven service delivery, stressing that the agency was determined to strengthen health insurance coverage and improve access to quality healthcare for residents of Rivers State.
The Executive Secretary also conveyed the appreciation of the agency’s management to Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his continued support to the health sector, particularly the ongoing renovation of the State Secretariat Complex. According to her, the Governor’s decision to fully operationalise the state health insurance scheme has had a significant impact, saving lives and providing financial protection to thousands of beneficiaries.
She disclosed that Rivers State currently ranks 13th nationally in the quest for Universal Health Coverage, adding that RIVCHPP is intensifying efforts to improve this standing.
As part of its advocacy drive, Dr. Agala announced that the agency would dedicate one day every week from January 2026 to showcase testimonies from beneficiaries, highlighting the positive impact of the scheme and rallying further public and institutional support.
Dr. Agala further revealed that many beneficiaries under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund would have been removed from the programme due to the absence of National Identification Numbers (NIN), but for the timely intervention of the state government.
She therefore appealed to local government chairmen, community leaders, organisations and well-meaning individuals to assist vulnerable residents in obtaining their NIN to ensure uninterrupted access to healthcare services.
Among other requests, the Executive Secretary sought the support of the Head of Service in driving the enrolment of the Rivers State workforce into the scheme, providing the nominal roll of civil servants for effective planning, and expanding RIVCHPP’s office space to accommodate the growing demands of increased enrolment.
In her response, Dr. Brown commended the RIVCHPP management for its dedication and impact, urging staff to sustain their commitment and align with the vision of expanding UHC in the state. She pledged to work closely with her team to ensure the formal sector is enrolled into the scheme, noting that national health insurance laws provide the legal backing for such enrolment.
The Head of Service also directed the Director of Administration to make the nominal roll available to RIVCHPP in soft copy and advised the agency to engage the Secretary to the State Government on securing a stand-alone facility to enhance its operations.
While reiterating her support, Dr. Brown emphasised the importance of quality service delivery, calling on RIVCHPP and other health agencies to ensure the availability of appropriate drugs in health facilities and improved work ethics, especially among healthcare workers in rural areas.
The visit concluded with the presentation of souvenirs to the Head of Service and a group photograph to mark the occasion.
