By Tina Amanda
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has intensified efforts to enhance healthcare services through the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP).
This initiative is part of his broader agenda to deliver the dividends of democracy, particularly in the health sector, to the people of Rivers State.
The RIVCHPP aims to provide comprehensive healthcare coverage to all residents, regardless of their socio-economic status or geographical location, with a special focus on vulnerable and indigent populations. The program has already enrolled thousands of residents across various local government areas, prioritizing pregnant women, children, the elderly, and those who are physically and mentally challenged.
Governor Fubara’s commitment to affordable and quality healthcare is evident through the introduction of various initiatives under the RIVCHPP. These include premium packages that offer substantial healthcare value, often exceeding the amount paid by beneficiaries.
This push aligns with the governor’s dedication to achieving sustainable development goals, particularly universal health coverage, ensuring that no resident of Rivers State is left behind in accessing essential health services.
The Acting, Executive Secretary, of Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr. Vetty Agala, explained that the RIVCHPP is the State Health Insurance Agency and the aim is to achieve Universal Health Coverage in Rivers State.
“The people’s governor, sir Siminalayi Fubara GSSRS wants a Rivers State where everyone that lives and works here can access quality healthcare when they need it without paying out of pocket or suffering further financial hardship.
“it is an enrolment of the vulnerable populations into the health insurance program. It is the social health insurance scheme of the
Rivers State Government where healthcare services for beneficiaries are paid from the common pool of funds.
“RIVCHPP has a plan for everyone whether civil servants, poor and vulnerable, organized private sector, SMEs, or market women. When you buy into our health plans, you are enrolled to access care from public or private facilities”.
Dr. Agala highlighted RIVCHPP benefits as follows: one is protected from poverty because of healthcare expenses, healthcare costs are reduced, improved health-seeking behavior and access to quality care when needed.
She said further that Rivers people can get enrolled in the scheme by visiting any facility in the RIVCHPP program.
Meanwhile, the Honorable Commissioner of Health Rivers State, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, has taken the RIVCHPP enrollment campaign to various local government areas in the state, registering vulnerable people, the elderly, pregnant women, and children into the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund.
Speaking during a RIVCHPP enrollment campaign at Tai LGA, she emphasized the scheme under the leadership of the Acting Executive Secretary Dr Vetty Agala and being supervised by herself, is to ensure that anyone enrolled can now have access to free healthcare.
“This will help the good people of Rivers not to fall into preventable debts while trying to access quality healthcare and also drastically reduce the loss of lives.
“We have come to Tai LGA as we have been to several others and yet there is still more to come”.
She thanked them and reiterated that the vision was to afford free medical care for Rivers people and also reduce out-of-pocket spending at the point of care.
The People of Tai Local Government Area, however, expressed their sincere gratitude to the Governor for affording them the opportunity to access free healthcare.
They also prayed for the Governor that the Lord would continue to protect him and give him the wisdom to lead the good people of Rivers State.
