By Deborah Sunday Nnamdi
The Acting Executive Secretary of Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, has called on civil servants and student associations to develop programmes that improve their welfare, particularly in healthcare.
RIVCHPP is touted by the state government as “a health insurance program, providing quality healthcare services to its enrollees. Ensuring comprehensive coverage, it caters to the diverse medical needs of the population.”
During an advocacy visit to Rivers State Television, Dr Agala urged civil servants to embrace the government’s programs, noting that Governor Siminialayi Fubara’s administration has introduced the contributory health insurance scheme to reduce the financial burden on residents, including students.
According to her, the scheme is a pocket-friendly health insurance scheme for all categories of persons in the state, maintaining that although it is not entirely free, its affordability makes it accessible to everyone, regardless of their state of origin.
She highlighted two packages, Civil Servants: 5% of basic salary and Self-Employed (Sim jara package): N15,000 annually emphasizing that both packages offer similar quality healthcare services, while ensuring that everyone can access medical care without financial burden.
She noted that the contributory health insurance scheme enables certain categories of people to access healthcare services without paying out-of-pocket expenses.
The RIVCHPP aims to increase awareness and encourage participation in the contributory health insurance scheme, ensuring that residents, including students, benefit from the government’s healthcare initiatives.
This move, she added, demonstrates the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of its citizens, particularly in the areas of healthcare and education. By engaging student associations and civil servants, the government seeks to promote a culture of healthcare accessibility and affordability.
She admonished the students to remain committed to their studies and begin to imbibe the ethics of the profession they are training in, assuring them that the agency would take up some of their concerns with the management of their institution.
