The Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme has intensified its drive for universal health coverage by taking its awareness and enrolment campaign to churches and community town hall meetings across the state.
The initiative, aimed at expanding access to affordable healthcare, was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday and signed by Ilanye Jumbo, media aide to the Executive Secretary of the state health insurance agency, Dr Vetty Agala. According to the statement, the campaign is designed to bring health insurance education closer to the people and encourage wider participation in the RIVCHPP scheme.
Addressing the leadership and congregation of Life Forte Chapel in Port Harcourt, Dr Agala said health insurance protects individuals and families from excessive medical expenses and sudden financial hardship during health emergencies. She urged residents of Rivers State to take advantage of the various RIVCHPP programmes and packages to secure access to quality healthcare services.
The Executive Secretary noted that the rising cost of healthcare has made health insurance no longer optional, stressing that enrollees can access services through accredited public and private healthcare facilities under the scheme, supported by functional referral systems. She explained that beneficiaries of RIVCHPP receive healthcare services without additional out-of-pocket payments, encouraging enrollees to make full use of the benefits available to them.
Dr Agala also acknowledged the support of the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to the governor’s #Health4AllRivers initiative. She said the programme is structured to ensure that no resident of the state is excluded from accessing affordable and quality healthcare.
She expressed appreciation to the lead pastors of Life Forte Chapel for providing a platform for the sensitisation exercise and for partnering with RIVCHPP by enrolling 125 church members into the health insurance scheme. The gesture, she said, demonstrated a strong commitment to the wellbeing of their congregation.
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Speaking on behalf of the church, the lead pastor, Dr Tombari Gbeneol, described holistic wellbeing as a balance of spiritual, emotional and physical health. He explained that the decision to enrol members into the RIVCHPP scheme was taken to protect them from avoidable health-related financial distress.
In a related development, the Head of Marketing and Business Development of RIVCHPP, Kingsley Ngini, called on communities, philanthropists and public-spirited individuals to partner with the agency in providing health insurance coverage for their members, families and associates. He made the appeal while addressing members of the Ihiala Women’s Association, Port Harcourt chapter.
Ngini sensitised the association on the benefits of enrolling in the programme, assuring them that RIVCHPP offers access to quality healthcare without exposing beneficiaries to financial hardship. In response, the president of the association pledged that members would enrol collectively with their families after recognising the long-term benefits of the scheme.
