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.

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has charged youths across the nine states of the commission to be ambassadors of peace building initiatives.

This move is to sustain the existing peace to propel development across the region.

The NDDC managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, gave the directive while declaring open a capacity building program for Niger Delta stakeholders on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and inclusive peace for sustainable development organised by the department of dispute and conflict resolution ( DCR) of the commission held in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday.

The program which is part of activities to mark the silver jubilee celebration of the birth of the commission has the theme: fostering lasting peace through ADR; lessons from the past, building future opportunities to advance the renewed hope agenda.

The NDDC managing Director/chief executive officer represented by his chief of staff, Rev Omeya Oworibo advised the youths of Niger Delta region to be vanguards of peace and avoid actions that could jeopardize the existing peace achieved in the region.

He emphasised that sustainable development can only be achieved in an atmosphere of peace devoid of rancour and acrimony, stressing that as critical stakeholders in the region, they are to seen themselves as agents of development and to build frontiers with the commission to advance the developmental needs of the people of Niger Delta region.

He averred that the various developmental achieved by the commission was associated to the prevailing peace and stability noticed in the region.

He opined that the essence of the workshop is to brainstorm with the various stakeholders in the region, especially the youths, on how best to ensure that the existing peace in region is sustained and how we can best manage ourselves without being confrontational.

According to him,the commission is open for positive and constructive engagement, adding that dialogue and meditation remains the key to finding a lasting peace in the society.

” I am excited on the level of people in this workshop and our core mandate is how to build and sustain the existing peace in the region. How do we keep and maintain this peace already achieved.”he stated.

The NDDC managing Director and chief executive officer urged them to carry the message of peace and stability to their various communities and villages so as to assist the commission achieve it’s core mandate of development in the Region.

Earlier in his welcome of address, the acting director, Dispute & Conflict Resolution (DCR), Ogedegbe Ayewumi Godwin (Esq), said the gathering is with shared commitment to harness the power of alternative dispute resolution (ADR)as a critical instrument for sustaining peace, unlocking development and advancing the renewed Hope Agenda across the Niger Delta and beyond.

He stated that we stand at a consequential moment in our national journey, noting that the theme for the workshop “fostering lasting peace through ADR: lessons from the past, Building future opportunities to advance the renewed Hope Agenda”calls us to reflect deeply on what has worked, what must be reinforced and how we can leverage ADR to translate policy intentions into tangible, peaceful, and prosperous outcome for communities that have borne the brunt of conflict for too long.

The Chief Judge of Rivers state, justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has charged neutral arbitrators participating in the median edition of the first free settlement Alternative Dispute Resolution initiative organised by the state multi-Door Courthouse to be neutral and unbiased in adjudicating cases brought before them for determination.

Justice Amadi stated this while declaring open a one-week free settlement initiative program held at the chief judge ceremonial court complex held, in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

The state chief judge represented on the event by Justice I.R. Minakiri said the essence of the initiative is to provide faster and lesser means of conflict resolution in the state.

According to him, ADR is the oldest practice in dispute resolution as its foundation is traceable to the bible ,using the moses model of dispute resolution and settlement approach, noting that conflicts can not be ruled out in human activities

He urged them to be intentional and have clear vision on cases brought before them and avoid ethnic and cultural colouration while discharging their sacred responsibility, nothing that those involved in peace making are regarded as true sons of God as recorded in the scripture.

The number one judiciary worker in the state use the opportunity to thank the neutrals for responding to call of duty and dispensing justice free of charge, noting that there huge contributions to peace building and conflict resolution in the state can not be overemphasized.

“You must be open minded and avoid being stereotype so that you can have a clear vision on the cases brought before you”

Earlier in his welcome address,the director, State multi-Door Court House, (RSMDC), Victor Nweke Esq said the
one-week free settlement initiative through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) was part of efforts to ease congestion in conventional courts.

Nweke encouraged the public to utilize the platform, particularly for commercial and family-related disputes and explained that the law establishing the institution empowers it to undertake such functions, adding that cases not concluded within the free settlement week would still be finalized under the same privilege.

He posisted that the hallmark of the conduct of the session is the neutrality and confidentiality and commended the arbitrators for the volunteering there time to dispense free justice and intermediate in conflict resolution in the state free of charge.