The Chairman of the Board of the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Prof. Princewill Chike has described the progress recorded by the state health insurance scheme as enormous and heartwarming.
Prof. Chike made the remark through a board member, Dr Nnesochi Offor, on Friday, December 12, 2025, in Port Harcourt during activities marking the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day in Rivers State.
He expressed optimism that the inclusion of beneficiaries from both the formal and informal sectors would significantly expand access to quality healthcare and ensure that more residents benefit from the scheme.
Earlier, in her welcome address, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of RIVCHPP, Dr Vetty Agala, described Universal Health Coverage Day as a global moment for reflection and renewed commitment to the principle that healthcare is a fundamental human right.
She called on stakeholders and residents of the state to support the ongoing enrolment exercise, stressing that the success of the scheme depends on collective participation.
Dr Agala noted that the strides recorded in the state’s healthcare sector were anchored on “people-centred leadership,” commending Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara for his vision of a resilient and inclusive health system that has created an enabling environment for UHC to move from aspiration to implementation.
The RIVCHPP boss also acknowledged the support of the Deputy Governor, Dr Ngozi Ordu; the wife of the governor, Mrs Valerie Fubara; the Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh; and members of the RIVCHPP board.
She urged residents to take advantage of the scheme, describing RIVCHPP as a state-wide framework for risk pooling, financial protection, and equitable access to healthcare services.
The UHC Day celebration, which commenced with a health and fitness walk, also featured a seminar, health outreach programmes, and goodwill messages from partners and stakeholders.
