Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) is seeking partnership with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to see to it that local government workers and their dependents are enrolled into its health insurance scheme.
In a visit to the Chairman of ALGON, Rivers State, and Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government Council, Hon. Allwell Ihunda, the Executive Secretary of RIVCHPP, Dr. Vetty Agala made it clear that partnership with local government councils is a better channel of reaching fast to the rural dwellers of the state to be part of the scheme which is providing quality and affordable healthcare services to all Rivers residents.
Dr. Agala, who called upon the Mayor, as chairman of ALGON, to reach out to chairmen of other local government areas, to buy into the programmes and packages of RIVCHPP, which she said is majorly needed by the residents at the different local government areas, especially the vulnerable population.
The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of RIVCHPP explained that RIVCHPP is an agency established by law 3 of 2020 and became operational in 2024, and it has already enrolled over 160,000 residents who presently access affordable healthcare services from different health facilities.
Dr. Agala also said that the state social health insurance agency has on its stable 205 primary health centres, 23 general hospitals, 45 private hospitals, and 2 tertiary hospitals where its enrollees go for primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of healthcare services.
The Executive Secretary of RIVCHPP, used the opportunity of the visit, to appreciate the mayor of Port Harcourt for the various health programmes he has initiated and sponsored, assuring him that RIVCHPP is fully digitalised with expertise that is making it one of the fastest improving health insurance agency in the country.
Responding, the Mayor of Port Harcourt City and Chairman of ALGON, Hon. Allwell Ihunda commended the steps and efforts of RIVCHPP in trying to make Rivers residents have access to healthcare services at affordable costs.
He expressed the readiness and willingness of his administration to partner the health insurance agency due to the value it places on the health of the people and its workforce, but he directed RIVCHPP to liaise with Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) so that the workers will not raise any eyebrows when eventually the 5% on their basic salary may be contributed for the health insurance.
Hon. Ihunda, then promised that RIVCHPP would be invited to make a presentation during the forthcoming ALGON retreat to explain all about the scheme to the Chairmen and principal officers of the various local government areas.
The visit witnessed presentation of RIVCHPP’s promotional materials to the mayor.
Idanye Oruigoni
Head, Information/Public Relations Unit,
RIVCHPP.
28th July, 2026.
