Rivers in aggressive expansion push up in contributory health scheme

…Targets 1.6m in 2026 to push up in national rating

Rivers State, which is considered one of the late comers into the contributory health protection programme, has begun a big push to capture more participants into the health insurance net.

The strategy is to target the rural areas through wards and local councils, hoping to capture 1.6 million new registrants in 2026. Now, the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) has become operational as a state health insurance agency, and it is fast becoming a household name.

According to the managers of the scheme, after the signing of the law for the establishment of a state health insurance agency in 2021 by the Nyesom Wike administration, nothing happened until 2024 when Siminialayi Fubara, the next Governor of Rivers State, authorised the functionality of the health insurance agency.

Since that authorisation in February, 2024, according to Idanye Oruigoni, Head, Information/Public Relations Unit, RIVCHPP has made indelible marks across the 23 local government areas of the state, and it is fast becoming a household name among Rivers residents.

National records show that all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Nigeria have established State Social Health Insurance Agencies (SSHIAs) to implement public health insurance, though the level of functional implementation varies across the country. Some have crossed one million registration levels. Some states have been highlighted for making significant progress in enrollment.

Rivers State is said to hover around 145,000 and is targeting 1.6m in next one year. Oruigoni said as an agency, which is positively driven by Gov Fubara’s mantra of #Health4AllRivers, and the proactive leadership of its Executive Secretary, Vetty Agala, RIVCHPP has continued to be ambitious, especially in seeing to it that it has at least a million of Rivers residents covered by the time it would be marking its third year of existence.

It is this desire of expanding coverage for more and more Rivers residents, after identifying that gaps do still exist in spite of what it has achieved within the two years of its existence, that the state health insurance agency called for a 2-day community engagement meeting.

Ngozi Odu, professor of pharmacology and Deputy Governor of the State, who is the state universal health coverage day advocate, was the special guest of honour at the 2-day engagement that held in March, 2026, in Port Harcourt.

At the meeting, the Professor (Odu) pointed out that the gathering reflected the collective commitment of Rivers State in strengthening healthcare delivery and ensuring that every resident of Rivers State has access to quality and affordable healthcare services.

The Deputy Governor used the occasion to publicly commend and appreciate what RIVCHPP is doing in the state, describing it as one of those programmes of the state government that is impactful. She said that whatever anyone does in governance that does not get to the people at the grassroots was a policy in futility.

Odu averred that RIVCHPP is a big success story because it started at the grassroots, thanking Gov Fubara for all he is doing for the people of Rivers State by not only making RIVCHPP functional but continuously sustaining and supporting the agency. She expressed optimism that the governor would do more.

Seeing the impressive health indices the state is recording and the improved and easy access to healthcare services by Rivers residents, the Deputy Governor confirmed that the community engagement was not only timely. She noted the gaps that were still inherently visible towards expanding universal health coverage in the state.

The Deputy Governor said the event was also an avenue to directly intimate leaders in the various strata of the state of what Gov Fubara was doing for the people in the health sector, advising all to take ownership of RIVCHPP.

On his part, Princewill Chike, the RIVCHOO board chairman, stated that since the roll out of the programme across the 23 local government areas, “We have recorded significant progress in expanding health insurance coverage and strengthening health access.”

Chike, represented at the event by Agala, the Executive Secretary of RIVCHPP, went further to state that ongoing monitoring and supportive supervision have revealed some gaps in coverage, service delivery standards, and coordination at the community level in some accredited facilities.

Chike pointed out that this engagement was to raise awareness about the programme (RIVCHPP), harmonise community level coordination mechanisms, and reinforce structured collaboration between RIVCHPP, community leaders, traditional and religious institutions, and Civil Society Organisations.

Despite the progress, experts still want to know how important community engagement is in expanding coverage.

In throwing more light on the need for collaboration, Chike said that sustainable health programmes succeed not only through policy and institutions, but through the active support and participation of communities.

The importance of the community engagement meeting was noted by other speakers at the event. In her remarks, Ajawa Chibuzor, an Assistant Health Officer of WHO, the representative of Abdulganiyu Giwa, the Rivers State Coordinator of the World Health Organisation (WHO), said that the initiative is more than a policy milestone. It is a declaration that health is a fundamental human right.

By its assessment of what RIVCHPP is doing in the state, the State Coordinator of WHO stated that RIVCHPP represents a courageous commitment to equity, thereby strengthening primary health care, reducing financial barriers that prevent families from seeking treatment, and for extending protection to save vulnerable groups, WHO concluded thus; “Rivers State is laying foundations for a healthier community with a stronger future.”

On her part, Justina Jumbo (professor), the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Health, stated that; “RIVCHPP has made commendable progress in expanding access to quality and affordable healthcare services across the 23 local government areas of the state. ”

The Permanent Secretary, however, called for community ownership and penetration, saying community and religious leaders and civil society organisations serve as vital bridges to reach the people at the grassroots. “Your engagement, therefore, is viable to expanding awareness”, she confirmed.

Officials say since the scheme became functional in 2024, RIVCHPP, as a state health insurance agency, has enrolled over 145,000 Rivers residents, not minding their states of origin or their status in society.

A project report says RIVCHPP has saved numerous lives. Many residents now have access to healthcare services, including surgeries of different types, and so much money has been saved by the residents.

Seeing the impressive and beneficial gains that Rivers residents have been getting when they get enrolled into RIVCHPP’s programmes, Victor Nwikpo Sorlesi, a board member of the health insurance agency, and chairman for the 2-day engagement, encouraged participants to be attentive so as to cascade the information and knowledge they would gain to their various communities and organisations.

Sorlesi, who himself had sponsored the enrolment of hundreds of persons into RIVCHPP’s programmes, advised all stakeholders to take advantage of this laudable programme that Gov Fubara made functional by continuing to work towards improving the health outcomes of Rivers residents.

Also speaking at the event, Leslie Eke, the Eze Gbakagbaka, and father of the day, summoned every participant to take ownership of the programme, which he described as a project for the residents of the state which is more than a normal health insurance scheme.

On her part, Agala, the executive secretary and real vision-bearer of the health insurance agency in Rivers State, profusely appreciated the Deputy Governor for her support. She also thanked the participants for their interest.

The executive secretary showered appreciation on Gov Fubara for the huge support that helped the scheme to take off, plus all other things he is doing for the state, especially in the health sector.

She said, “My deepest gratitude goes to Gov Fubara for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to strengthening the health sector of Rivers State.

“Rivers State is indeed witnessing transformative reforms in the health sector, including the full implementation of RIVCHPP, which provides financial protection and access to quality healthcare for residents of the state.”

Observers say that the impact of the work RIVCHPP does remains visible. It is high time for participants at the 2-day engagement, and all stakeholders, to continue to make sure that the knowledge and benefits of the health insurance scheme trickle down to everyone residing even in the hard to reach parts of the state, across the 23 local government areas.

Presently, according to Oruigoni, for residents of the state who are not among the vulnerable population, the premium for enrolment into RIVCHPP’s programmes is a paltry N25,000. As insignificant as this sum may appear, he says, “There are those among us, in our communities, religious organisations, and neighbourhood, who may not be able to afford such to enroll into the health insurance scheme that will give them access to quality healthcare for one full year.

“RIVCHPP is therefore calling on all traditional rulers, various cadre of leaders in communities and environs, political leaders, religious leaders and groups, elites and philanthropists, to show true love by helping to enroll indigent persons into the scheme.

“If Rivers people must see to it that the mantra of the state governor, Sir Fubara’s #Health4AllRivers does not end as a mirage, then all hands must be on deck not just to spread the messages of RIVCHPP, but to also enroll people into this laudable scheme. By so doing, the health insurance agency will not only expand the universal health coverage of Rivers State, Rivers residents will truly enjoy the meaning of the saying that ‘health is wealth’.

The scheme is available to vulnerable persons (children under five years, elderly above 60 years, all pregnant women, people living with HIV and disabilities) who will enroll free under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.

Those under the informal sector pay a premium of #25,000, N68,00, & N98,000, depending on the package they want. This covers everything thing from medication/drugs, tests, counselling, and even surgeries.

It was gathered that hospitals apply by paying a registration fee, after submission of requisite documents, then the Quality Assessment and Health Services Departments, in company of National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) officials, will go for inspection of such facilities before approving or otherwise to provide services for RIVCHPP’s enrollees.

Investigations show that the major gap that is for those of the vulnerable population in the rural areas, and hard to reach communities, of the state to come on board the programme. They are said to be the major targets of the agency.

Initially, it is gathered, the major challenge is the lack of national identification numbers (NIN) by prospective enrollees. The agency has partnered NIMC (National Identity Management Commission) and has got five machines to ease NIN registration for interested enrollees. RIVCHPP strives to work with partners including NHIA, CHAI (Clinton Health Access Initiative), World Health Organisation, etc.

More sensitisation to build knowledge and consciousness among rural dwellers is where they now focus. Hospitals that provide services for RIVCHPP’s enrollees are said to be 206 Primary Health Centres, 23 General Hospitals, and 26 private Hospitals.