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The Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) is the state social health insurance agency established by Rivers State law 3 of 2020, signed in June 2021 and implemented in February 2024 by the Sir Siminalayi Fubara’s administration.
RIVCHPP’s mandate is to provide financial risk protection for everyone that lives and works in the state, ensuring universal healthcare coverage with equity, quality and safety at its core.
In our first year of existence, RIVCHPP implemented only the National Health Insurance Authority gateway of the Basic healthcare provision fund catering to vulnerable populations such as children under 5, pregnant women, elderly, persons living with disability, very poor persons especially widows, orphans and those PLHIV or SCD. These over 100,000 enrollees access care in 204primary, private secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities across the 23 LGAs of the state,
This meeting is to brief Rivers’ people on the progress RIVCHPP has made in the last 7 months and appreciate the commitment of the Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Ibok-Ette Ekwe Ibas for prioritizing healthcare. Under his leadership, the government has:
Funded the enrolment of 20,0000 pensioners and vulnerable groups, including 2,500 inmates of the Port Harcourt Correctional Centres. This validates the fact that “Healthcare is a right, not a privilege even for those in custodian centres. By enrolling pensioners, this administration is ensuring that those who served Rivers State will not be left behind, the initiative is about protecting our pensioners, those who gave their best years to the service of Rivers State. Health protection is their right, and with government support, we are ensuring they can live their retirement years with dignity and peace of mind.
Inaugurated the RIVCHPP Board and promised operational support, including vehicles and expanded facilities. The board is ably chaired by Prof Princewill Chike, former commissioner for health during whose tenure the RIVCHPP law we signed.
Approved the onboarding of all civil servants into the scheme and matched H words by releasing both counterpart and equity funds as government contribution to the sustainability of the scheme. This means government workers and the households can now be protected from out of pocket payments of medical bill
With these, RIVCHPP is now poised to fully operationalize all its health plans, massive awareness and strengthen healthcare service delivery in Rivers State as performance healthcare access across all levels of healthcare
To improve service delivery RIVCHPP is conducting Q2 data validation meeting for local government focal persons as we speak to ensure accurate health data for decision making. Additionally, reaccreditation visits of 204 primary healthcare facilities across 23 LGAs is ongoing in collaboration with NHIA, with plans to train staff in secondary healthcare facilities on RIVCHPP operations. Lat week, RIVCHPP started town hall meetings to engage enrollees and get feedback on service utilization. This has been temporarily put on hold until after the upcoming LGA elections
RIVCHPP is investing in a robust ICT system with a 247 call centre to meet the needs of our clients and electronic claims management system for healthcare providers. RIVCHPP Scorecard for the last 7 months highlights achievements in widening healthcare access across the state.
110,000 enrolled, 64,599 hospital visits with 102,192 services utilized, Malaria /Typhoid (38,846), hypertension (9,908) and ANC (7,616) topping the charts as reasons for visit. 513 referrals, 234 different surgeries and lots more.
One of the major prerequisites for enrolment is the National Identification Number, our challenge is that most of our existing enrollees do that have it. We will be revalidating enrollees this September and registering without NIN. I therefore call on every well-meaning Rivers resident to support vulnerable populations around them by ensuring they get NIN registration to be eligible for health insurance coverage.
Ladies and gentlemen of the Press, at this point, I encourage all Rivers Residents, especially those in the informal to key in with a minimum of #15,000 for the RIVCare plan.
Let us all take advantage of this health insurance initiative with government commitments geared towards reducing inequality, protecting families from poverty caused by illness, and laying the foundation for inclusive growth. No society can thrive when people cannot access care. Powered by the massive support from the Administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Ibok-Ette Ekwe Ibas CFR. RIVCHPP is protecting households from health poverty and building a healthier, more inclusive Rivers State,”
Contact RIVCHPP: 09046962204
www.rivchpp.rv.gov.ng
Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme on Linkedin and FaceBook
@RIVCHPP on IG
@RVCHPP on X
Thank you
God bless Rivers State
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Dr Vetty Agala
Executive Secretary, RIVCHPP
