RismadarVoice Reporters, June 30, 2026
The Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) says it has made significant progress in expanding access to healthcare, with more than 150,000 residents now enrolled in the state’s social health insurance scheme.
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of RIVCHPP, Dr Vetty Agala, disclosed this during an advocacy visit to Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola, where she led a delegation from the agency to engage the institution’s management on the benefits of the programme.
According to Agala, one of the agency’s biggest challenges at its inception was gaining public confidence in the government’s health insurance initiative. She, however, said the growing number of enrollees reflects increasing trust in the scheme.
She noted that beneficiaries are currently accessing healthcare services through accredited facilities across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.
Agala also highlighted the agency’s formal sector health insurance package, explaining that it provides coverage for an employee, a spouse and up to four children.
She added that the age limit for eligible children under the scheme has been increased from 18 to 21 years to enable more dependants to benefit from the programme.
Responding, the Rector of Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Dr Moses S. Neebee, who was represented by the Deputy Rector, Dr Aloni Clinton, welcomed the initiative.
He said the institution remains open to programmes that will improve the health and welfare of its staff and students, adding that the management would consider RIVCHPP’s proposal.
