Rivers State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the recently inaugurated State Health Insurance Scheme currently covers 70 percent of the 23 local government areas in the state.
Fubara made the declaration yesterday while speaking at the inauguration of the Kingdom Mandate Initiative’s health insurance programme at Ahoada Town, the headquarters of Ahoada-East local government area of the state.
Kingdom Mandate Initiative’s health insurance programme is part of the constituency project of Senator Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, the senator representing Rivers West in the National Assembly.
The programme aims to bring quality healthcare to the people of the senatorial district in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
The governor, represented by his deputy, Professor Ngozi Ordu, lauded Banigo for her tireless legislative work and passion for improving healthcare delivery.
He said: “Our State has already inaugurated our State’s Health Insurance Scheme, which currently covers 70% of our local government areas.
“The government recognises that a healthy population is the foundation of a prosperous society. By investing in the health of the Rivers people, we are investing in the state’s future, which will improve individual lives, strengthen our communities, and boost our local economies.”
Earlier, the Senator representing Rivers West Senatorial District, Senator Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, commended the governor for the numerous giant strides recorded in the health sector of the state within a short time, especially for setting up the Rivers State Contributory Health scheme, construction of the new psychiatric hospital as well as zonal hospitals.
She said, “The programme aims to ensure that our people have access to healthcare without first paying for it, adding that it cuts across the eight local government areas of the Senatorial District.”
