The Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Program, RIVCHPP, says it will ensure that every Rivers citizen is covered under the scheme with the help of universal health coverage.
Chairman of RIVCHPP, Professor Princewill Chike, made this known while briefing newsmen at the end of the board inaugural meeting in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. He stated that over one hundred and ten thousand people have enrolled in the program across the 23 local government areas of the state.
He disclosed that the board is set to unbundle secondary care with the help of universal health care coverage.
Prof. Chike disclosed that RIVCHPP is set to expand its scope to private health care facilities and assured citizens of the state of providing the best of facilities.
‘We the members of RIVCHPP board have just had our inaugural meeting and retreat , we are trying to inform the public, those residing in Rivers State that we have hit the ground running from last week when the board was officially inaugurated. We in this board have decided to make sure that the universal health coverage is covered and anybody living in Rivers State benefits from it. As we speak to you, over one hundred and ten thousand enrollees have been recorded across the 23 local government areas in the state and with the help of executive Secretary and management, RIVCHPP has been going round all the 23 local government areas.
“Of course, you know the new act has been signed involving the universal health coverage, and every person is expected to be covered. We are also going to expand the scope of private facilities that we have engaged in this health insurance program.
“We want to assure the people of Rivers State and all the people doing business in the state that they will all be given the best of facility. We have checks and balances because we have personnel we will send to all the nooks and crannies of the state to make sure the necessary things are done.
“The National health insurance agency which is partnering with us is all insisting that your national Identification Number NIN will be used for proper registration and we expect that all of us will key into it,” Prof. Chike stated.
The Chairman called on Rivers people to enrol in the program through the Nationa Identification Number (NIN) and other relevant documents.
“We will also partner with Local Government chairmen because we are trying to see how we can get NIN office across the 23 LGAs because that is the requirement from our partners. and of course we are spreading our tentacles, we will ensure health professionals who are working with us are well taken care of so that they can in turn render the best care to the public,” Prof. Chike noted.
