RismadarVoice Reporters
May 19, 2026
The Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) has expressed its willingness to collaborate with the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Unit of the state Ministry of Health to provide healthcare support for patients suffering from lymphoedema and hydrocele under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
The commitment was made by the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of RIVCHPP, Dr Vetty Agala, during an advocacy visit by officials of the Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit to her office on Tuesday.
Dr Agala stated that the programme remains committed to ensuring that residents of Rivers State have access to quality and affordable healthcare services. She also praised Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his support of healthcare initiatives in the state.
She explained that for effective inclusion of affected persons in the programme, the agency would require detailed demographic and statistical data of patients living with the conditions across the state.
According to her, the information would enable the agency to properly identify, register, and enrol eligible individuals under the health scheme.
Earlier, the leader of the NTD delegation, Dr Ihuoma Aaron Wali, described lymphatic filariasis as a major public health concern in Rivers State that requires urgent intervention if the state hopes to strengthen universal health coverage goals.
Dr Wali appealed to RIVCHPP to extend healthcare sponsorship to individuals affected by lymphoedema and hydrocele through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, noting that many of the patients fall within vulnerable groups.
She explained that neglected tropical diseases often affect individuals with limited access to healthcare and can result in disability, social stigma, and prolonged health complications if left untreated.
The NTD team also urged the agency to consider healthcare coverage for lymphoedema treatment and hydrocele surgeries as part of efforts to improve the well-being of affected residents and reduce the burden of neglected diseases in the state.
