The Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer of RIVCHPP, Dr. Vetty Agala, in the middle, and to her right is the Chairman of Obuama CDC, Prof. Sakiemi Idoniboye, while others flanked them.
The Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding health insurance coverage across the state, describing its activities as central to Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s Health4AllRivers initiative.
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of RIVCHPP, Dr Vetty Agala, stated this on Thursday, October 29, 2026, when she received members of the Obuama Community Development Committee and the 1996 set of Bereton College Port Harcourt Old Students Association during separate courtesy visits to her office.
Agala said the agency was committed to ensuring that every Rivers resident without health insurance had access to its programmes, stressing that health insurance remained a more sustainable approach to healthcare financing than reliance on free medical services.
She explained that government, philanthropists, corporate organisations and other well-meaning individuals could sponsor health insurance coverage for vulnerable persons who might otherwise be unable to afford it.
Members of Bereton College, Port Harcourt (1996 set) flanking Dr. Vetty Agala ( in the middle), RIVCHPP’s Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer at the visit.
According to her, such collective efforts would expand access to healthcare while ensuring that vulnerable members of society were not excluded from essential medical services.
The RIVCHPP chief executive called on local government authorities, politicians, community leaders and well-meaning individuals to sponsor health insurance for people within their communities, describing the initiative as an investment in healthier families and communities.
She noted that since the agency became operational in 2024, it had improved residents’ access to healthcare services but acknowledged that greater public awareness was needed to maximise its impact.
Agala, therefore, urged individuals and organisations to become advocates of the programme by informing residents about its benefits and encouraging them to enrol.
She also expressed the agency’s readiness to collaborate with community groups, associations and other stakeholders committed to improving universal health coverage and promoting positive health-seeking behaviour among Rivers residents.
Speaking on behalf of the Obuama Community Development Committee, its chairman, Prof. Sakiemi Idoniboye, commended RIVCHPP for its efforts to improve healthcare access in the state.
Idoniboye said the committee was seeking a partnership with the agency to facilitate the enrolment of members of the Obuama community in the health insurance scheme and improve their overall health outcomes.
However, he urged RIVCHPP to ensure that its operations remained free from political considerations, warning that any perception of political bias could undermine public confidence and discourage community members from participating in its programmes.
He stressed the importance of maintaining an impartial approach that would encourage residents, regardless of their political affiliations, to embrace the scheme.
In a separate remark, the president of the Bereton College Port Harcourt Old Students Association, 1996 set, Gift E. Chidi-nma, said the association visited RIVCHPP to explore areas of collaboration as part of its plans to give back to the community hosting their alma mater.
She explained that the association intended to mark its 30th anniversary with initiatives that would benefit the community, adding that discussions with RIVCHPP were aimed at identifying opportunities to support healthcare access among residents.
The proposed collaboration reflects growing efforts by community organisations and alumni associations to contribute to public health initiatives through partnerships with government agencies.
