Fubara Approves Contributory Health Protection Programme

Rivers State governor Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the implementation of the State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP).

The commissioner for health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, said the governor approved the appointment of Dr Vetty Agala as the programme’s acting executive secretary.

Oreh stated that Rivers remained the only state in the country that did not have an active state health insurance scheme, even though the RIVCHPP law, was passed by the State House of Assembly in 2021.

She further stated that the programme will be responsible for overseeing health insurance coverage and access to quality healthcare for citizens and residents of the state.

The statement reads in part: “His Excellency Governor Siminialayi Fubara GSSRS has approved the implementation of the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) and the appointment of Dr Vetty Agala as the Acting Executive Secretary.

“The RIVCHPP law, was passed by the State Assembly in 2021, and as it had not been effected until now, Rivers State was the only state in the Federal Republic of Nigeria which did not have an active state health insurance scheme.

“This programme will be responsible for overseeing health insurance coverage and access to quality healthcare for citizens and residents of the state.”