Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) and the Pamo University of Medical Sciences (PUMS) today entered an agreement to expand coverage of health services to Pamo University community, staff and students.
This development occurred at a courtesy visit by the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of RIVCHPP, Dr. Vetty Agala, and her team to the Vice Chancellor and management of Pamo University of Medical Sciences, Iriebe, Rivers State.
The Executive Secretary said that RIVCHPP has over 145,000 enrollees scattered across the 23 local government areas of the state and PUMS community will not only add to this number but the earlier empanelled PAMO University Teaching Hospital and Clinic will provide all levels of care to enrollees around the ObiobAkpor/ Oyigbo areas of the state.
Dr. Agala, who led the management team of RIVCHPP to the University for the collaborative meeting had requested approval for the students and staff of Pamo University to enrol into RIVCHPP’s schemes, outlined the inherent benefits that the University community will gain from the robust packages heavily subsidised by the State Government.
Dr. Agala announced that for students, the premium for one calendar year is N12,000 only, while staff will contribute 5% of their basic salaries with their employer contributing 10% to cover spouses and 4 children under 21 years. She explained that enrollees can continue to access care in and outside the school community, and even when they travel outside Rivers State they are certain to get coverage.
The Executive Secretary of RIVCHPP also made it clear that Pamo Teaching Hospital has already been onboarded to provide different levels of healthcare services to the University community.
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Dr. Agala also used the opportunity of the visit to appreciate the governing council and management of the university for their stewardship in strengthening institutional governance and service delivery with commitment to human capital development, saying that all they do remain very pivotal to the socio-economic growth of the state.
RIVCHPP’s Chief Executive Officer reiterated that the University’s mission of providing excellent medical training for world class professionals, characterised by their core values, aligns with the vision of Governor Siminialayi Fubara’s vision to ensure that Rivers people get the best socio-economic environment for growth and development.
Dr. Agala said that in line with the Governor’s vision of #Health4AllRivers, he made the health insurance agency functional in 2024, after its law was signed in 2021, saying that the government has continued to subsidise the services the agency provides for all Rivers residents.
In his response, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Smith Jaja approved the partnership, thanking the Governor for institutionalising such an agency to provide affordable and quality healthcare for the people.
The meeting featured presentation of RIVCHPP’s promotional materials to the management of Pamo University of Medical Sciences.
