The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr. Vetty Agala, has underscored the strategic importance of Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) gateway forum meetings in strengthening healthcare delivery across the state.
Agala made the assertion while declaring open the 2026 first quarter BHCPF gateway forum meeting in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
She explained that the forum provides a platform for critical self-assessment among implementing gateways, enabling stakeholders to interrogate service delivery, identify existing gaps, and develop practical solutions to enhance healthcare outcomes for residents.
According to her, the state health insurance agency is finalising modalities to commence facility-level enrolment under Phase II of the BHCPF, with an emphasis on integrating National Identification Number (NIN) data to expand coverage and improve access to services.
In a goodwill message, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics at the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board, Dr. Dede Seiyeofori, urged participants to engage openly and share experiences that would aid in identifying operational challenges and proffering effective solutions.
Also speaking, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics at the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr. Julienne Darlington-Nwoke, noted that the quarterly meetings have recorded steady improvements, describing them as critical platforms for evaluating the performance of various gateways, particularly in delivering care to vulnerable populations.
She commended RIVCHPP for its sustained efforts in expanding healthcare access through effective oversight of services at primary health centres across the state.
On his part, the State Epidemiologist and head of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) gateway in Rivers State, Dr. Victor L. Abiikor, described the meeting as impactful, noting that it enables gateway operators to assess performance and address identified gaps in service delivery.
He added that the forum is vital to public welfare, as BHCPF-funded services ensure that residents, especially the underserved, can access healthcare without direct financial burden.
Similarly, Chairman of Medical Officers of Health (MOH) in the state, Dr. Remmyson Keke, said the periodic reviews have strengthened primary healthcare services by enhancing supervision and encouraging efforts to close identified gaps.
The meeting brought together representatives of the four BHCPF gateways—REMSAS, Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board (RSPHCMB), NCDC, and RIVCHPP—as well as key development partners, including the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), among others.
