The management of the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) has commended the Head of Service of Rivers State, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, for her support in ensuring a conducive working environment for civil servants, including staff of the health insurance agency.
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of RIVCHPP, Dr Vetty Agala, stated this when she led the agency’s management team on a courtesy visit to the Office of the Head of Service on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
In a statement signed by Idanye Oruigoni
Head, Information/Public Relations Unit, RIVCHPP, Agala said the HoS’s leadership and continuous support had been instrumental to the progress recorded by the agency, assuring that RIVCHPP would remain accountable, transparent and result-oriented in delivering its mandate.
She also appealed to Dr Brown to convey the appreciation of RIVCHPP management to Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his commitment to the welfare of Rivers people, particularly the ongoing renovation of the State Secretariat Complex.
The RIVCHPP boss further thanked the governor for making the health insurance scheme fully functional in the state, noting that its operationalisation had saved lives and improved access to quality healthcare for many residents.
Agala announced that, beginning from January 2026, the agency would dedicate one day weekly to sharing testimonies of beneficiaries, highlighting the impact of the programme and soliciting support to address challenges confronting the scheme.
She disclosed that several beneficiaries, especially those under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, would have been delisted for lack of National Identification Number (NIN) if not for the intervention of the state government.
Agala therefore called on local government chairmen, organisations and well-meaning individuals to assist vulnerable persons in their communities to obtain NINs in order to sustain access to healthcare services.
Responding, the Head of Service commended RIVCHPP for its performance and urged the management and staff to deepen their commitment towards expanding universal health coverage in the state.
Dr Brown expressed optimism that with sustained effort, Rivers State could become the leading state in healthcare coverage nationally. She pledged continued support for the agency, stressing that the onboarding of the formal sector into the scheme was crucial, as routine health checks in the workplace remained vital.
However, she urged RIVCHPP and other health agencies to ensure that quality drugs were dispensed at health facilities and called on health workers, particularly those in rural areas, to improve their attitude to work.
The visit featured the presentation of souvenirs to the Head of Service.
