The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr. Vetty Agala, has described the state’s social health insurance scheme as a strategic initiative of Governor Siminalayi Fubara aimed at ensuring financial protection and access to healthcare for residents.
Agala stated this on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, in Port Harcourt, when she received the leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Rivers State Council.
She commended the state government for providing healthcare facilities and qualified personnel but expressed concern over the low patronage of the facilities.
According to her, the poor patronage is not necessarily because residents do not fall sick, but because many lack the financial resources to seek medical care when needed.
Agala said RIVCHPP was established to make universal health coverage a reality in Rivers State by ensuring that residents and workers can access quality healthcare without suffering financial hardship or paying out-of-pocket at the point of care.
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She noted that the programme caters to people in the formal and informal sectors, vulnerable groups and those living with chronic conditions.
The RIVCHPP boss also announced that the agency had introduced health insurance plans for students, with pupils in primary and secondary schools paying N9,000 annually, while tertiary students would pay N12,000 per academic year. She added that coverage would extend to students during their holidays.
Agala urged the TUC and other labour organisations to partner with RIVCHPP to increase enrolment, stressing that government funding alone could not sustain a viable health insurance system.
She also called on international oil companies, religious organisations, political and community leaders, groups and well-meaning individuals to sponsor health insurance for members of their communities.
In his remarks, the TUC Rivers State Council Chairman, Comrade Samuel Ogan, commended RIVCHPP for its efforts, saying health insurance remained the appropriate way to guarantee access to healthcare.
Ogan urged the state government to develop a seamless arrangement for enrolling civil servants and their dependants, noting that workers would be more willing to participate if the process did not involve visible deductions from their salaries.
He said the enrolment of all civil servants into RIVCHPP would encourage other organisations and individuals to enrol their workers and dependants.
Meanwhile, Agala has also assured the University of Port Harcourt Medical Students Association (PUMSA) of the agency’s readiness to work with the university’s entire student community to expand access to quality healthcare.
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Agala gave the assurance when the leadership of PUMSA, led by its President, Nelson Fadeh Leteh, visited the agency.
She said RIVCHPP had commenced engagements with relevant authorities to address existing challenges and urged the students to follow due process in presenting their demands.
Earlier, Leteh highlighted the challenges and hazards faced by medical students, particularly during clinical training, and expressed the association’s interest in enrolling its members in RIVCHPP’s health insurance programme.
He said the current healthcare arrangement available to the students was characterised by protocols and bottlenecks that hindered seamless access to medical services.
The visits ended with the presentation of RIVCHPP promotional materials to the visiting groups.
