Rivers Citizens Now To Enjoy Healthcare Insurance As RSG Launches CHIPP
● Governor reveals programme is for persons seeking access to critical healthcare services
By PHC Telegraph
Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s biometrics being captured under the new Rivers State insurance scheme launched in the health sector by the State Government at Ndoni in the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area.
Rivers State under the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara has launched an insurance scheme that will change the face of healthcare delivery.
Under the scheme known as the Contributory Health Insurance Protection Programme (CHIPP), the needy who face difficulties accessing medicare as a result of escalating costs are to receive a measure of financial protection.
Launching the programme, Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State expressed confidence that the State’s contributory health insurance scheme would reduce the pain faced by persons from low income homes.
He also hoped that the insurance scheme would equally resolve the inequality that citizens are confronted with while trying to benefit from available services provided in the health sector.
Charging managers of the scheme to be unbiased, Fubara said the scheme must be administered in such a way that the most vulnerable in the society are not deprived from accessing critically needed healthcare services.
“With what I am seeing here”, the Governor remarked, “we didn’t make any mistake in ensuring that the Health Insurance Programme commenced in our State.”
Stressing that the idea “is to increase access to healthcare for the people”, the State’s number one citizen observed, “most families that cannot afford expensive healthcare services outside their means, can leverage on this service that has been rolled out.”
According to the Rivers Governor, “it is proper for me to also add that while we are doing this, we shouldn’t undermine the scheme.
“The services should be properly utilised and the funds released should be applied prudently to achieve the purpose.”
Incidentally, the launch of the public sector Contributory Health Insurance Protection Programme (CHIPP) came on the heels of the inauguration of the Comprehensive Primary Health Centre at Ndoni in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu display their health insurance identity cards after they were duly enrolled under the programme.
The Port Harcourt Telegraph reports that as part of the highlight of the introduction of the historic scheme launched outside the State capital, the Governor became the first to be enrolled under the scheme, followed by his Deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu.
Our Correspondent further reports that the fingerprints of the Governor and his Deputy were captured by health officials who later presented them with their identity cards under the scheme.
Turning his attention to the programme managers, Fubara warned that Government will not tolerate any situation that would undermine its desire to foster what he described as an inclusive and equitable system that is intended to give the people of the State appropriate access to healthcare.
Earlier, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Rivers State Contributory Health Insurance Protection Programme, Dr Vetty Agala, noted that the scheme would enhance the State’s chance of achieving universal access to healthcare services.
Agala explained that her team will embark on the enrollment of people in the 319 political wards spread throughout the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.
“Today, we are here to flag-off the enrollment of the scheme. Your Excellency, we want to thank you for graciously permitting and approving that Rivers State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme be implemented.
“Rivers people can now, indeed, access healthcare without having to pay at the point of service.
“At all of our programmes, women, people living with disability, the aged and children under five years can walk into this centre or where they are registered, show their cards and be attended to free of charge,” she stated.
No less than 200 people were enrolled at the primary health centre in Ndoni on the day the programme was officially launched.
Recall that the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme Bill was signed into law on June 21, 2021.
But it was however never implemented by the last civilian administration which paid intense attention to the provision of basic infrastructure and ignored the welfare of the ordinary people, including workers in the State Civil Service who were for years denied promotion and other entitlements.
As part of his people-oriented policy, Governor Fubara actively reactivated the programme in order to enable residents as well as people of the State who want to acquire health insurance to participate in the scheme.
An excited senior citizen, name withheld, told this publication in Port Harcourt, “Some us who are finding it hard to access drugs and medical treatment will live a bit longer because of what our Governor is doing in the health sector.
“Because he cares for the downtrodden, we pray for him. And we pray that the Almighty God will continue to grant him wisdom and the political will to address the problems of the common people of Rivers State.”