RIVCHPP Set To Begin Enrolment Of Rivers State Civil Servants
Pledges More Bumper Healthcare Services For Residents
By Edu Abade
The Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) has unveiled plans to begin a sustained enrolment of civil servants in the state into its health insurance scheme.
Acting Executive Secretary of RIVCHPP, Dr. Vetty Rolegherighan Agala, stated this at the office of the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, in Port Harcourt, the state capital, when she led her management team on a courtesy and advocacy visit to the Head of Service.
Agala reiterated that though the agency has already met and gotten a positive nod from the Joint Negotiating Council of Nigeria Labour Congress on the subject, the agency still deems it fit to meet with the Head of Service to formally intimate him of the efforts of the agency, in line with the policies of the state Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara and the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh’s, health for all Rivers strategy, to expand the Universal Health Coverage of the State.
Maintaining that universal health coverage talks about everyone having access to quality healthcare services, she decried that civil servants in the state are yet to be part of the laudable programme that has been giving residents of the state quality health care services without financial burdens and strain at point of care.
Agala announced that though her office is just about one year in existence, it has enrolled 80,000 lives, out of which 37, 000 persons have already been accessing different forms of quality health care services in the different local government areas of the state.
She also announced that RIVCHPP gifted Rivers residents 50 surgeries, fully paid for in appreciation and commemoration of the governor’s 50th birthday, urging the Head of Service to use his good office to advocate for civil servants and other government appointees, who may not be civil servants to join the health insurance scheme of RIVCHPP to help increase the Universal Health Coverage of the State and reduce morbidity and mortality in the state.
Agala, who rated the agency high within its first year of existence, maintained that RIVCHPP is making concerted efforts to see to it that it gets more lives on its scheme in fulfillment of its mandate of ensuring that everyone that works and lives in Rivers State is able to access health care of good quality when they need it without suffering financial hardship.
Agala also used the medium to thank Governor Siminialayi Fubara, the Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, for expanding the civil with over 2000 health workers, which is significantly enhancing health care delivery in the state, and for making the welfare of civil servants in the state topnotch.
In a statement made available to journalists by the agency’s Media and Communication Officer, Idanye Oruigoni, affirmed that Nwaeke, who described RIVCHPP as one of the legacies of the Fubara administration, urged the management team to always liaise with their team to exhibit professionalism and discipline for the benefit of the enrollees.
He restated that Governor Fubara places premium on the wellbeing of Rivers State people, urging RIVCHPP to ensure that in line with the governor’s desires, Rivers people have unfettered access to good and affordable medical services.
Nwaeke further stressed that his office is always open to render services that are prescribed in the state’s civil service law.
