The government of Rivers State alongside traditional ruler and people of Evo Kingdom in the state applaud the strides by the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) as the agency takes its campaign to churches and community meetings to expand coverage
By Edu Abade
The people of Evo Kingdom of Rivers State have described the establishment of Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) as laudable and a step in the right direction towards Rivers residents accessing quality healthcare services without passing through the trauma of financial burdens.
The people made their position known during an advocacy visit of the management of the state health insurance agency, led by its Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Vetty Agala to the palace of the king of Evo Kingdom, Eze (Dr.) Leslie Eke in Woji Town on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
A statement made available to Tentacle by the Head, Information and Public Relations Unit at RIVCHPP, Idanye Oruigoni, indicated that the people of Evo Kingdom requested the management of RIVCHPP to embark on more sensitization and collaborations with, especially community leaderships throughout the state, to create more awareness among those who really need to benefit from the programme.
The Evo people, however, decried what they termed ‘poor services’ provided in some of the primary health facilities in the state, saying that there is an urgent need to strengthen the primary health centres for the people to enjoy maximum benefits of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s thoughtful programmes.
The Evo people thanked Fubara for making RIVCHPP functional, assuring the management of RIVCHPP of the readiness and willingness of the people of Evo to be part of the programme.
Some of those who spoke from Evo Kingdom were Ruwhuoma Nnodi Paul, Queen Obunezi Eke, Mrs. Sylverline O. Ejims, Rev. Dr. Magret Mbu, Chief Samuel Owoh, and Dr. Stanley Amadi, among others.
Earlier in her remarks, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of RIVCHPP, Dr. Vetty Agala, who enumerated the functionality and programmes of the state health insurance agency to the people of Evo kingdom, assured the people that the services provided by RIVCHPP, through its accredited facilities are topnotch and very beneficial to all Rivers residents.
Dr. Agala also allayed fears and doubts expressed by the people concerning the sustainability of the agency, assuring that RIVCHPP has come to stay to help Rivers residents have access to quality healthcare services without paying heavily from their pockets.
She expressed gratitude to Governor Fubara and the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, for their interest in the health of the people and enjoined every resident of the state to enrol into RIVCHPP programmes to be part of the beneciaries of the largesse of the health policies of the state government.
The visit, which was interactive, featured the presentation of RIVCHPP kits and materials to Eze Leslie Eke and members of his cabinet.
In a related development, RIVCHPP has taken its aggressive campaign geared towards expanding universal health coverage in the state to churches and community-town meetings.
In one of such campaigns, Dr. Agala stated that health insurance prepares persons against excessive expenditure and unexpected hardship when health emergencies occur, encouraging every Rivers residents to enroll into RIVCHPP programmes and packages.
Dr. Agala, who made the clarifications while addressing the leadership and congregation of Life Forte Chapel, in Port Harcourt, on Sunday, February 8, 2026, outlined some of the benefits of enrolling with the RIVCHPP, while urging all to take advantage of the opportunity to enroll.
RIVCHPP’s Executive Secretary also used the medium to point out that the cost of healthcare services is becoming astronomical, but that residents can access quality and affordable services through RIVCHPP-accredited public and private facilities, with functional referral systems.
She also clarified that services provided by RIVCHPP, which are topnotch, can be obtained by enrollees without additional out of pocket expenses, encouraging enrollees to actively utilise healthcare services provided by RIVCHPP and further acknowledged Governor Fubara’s support for the programme, just as she reaffirmed RIVCHPP’s commitment to the governor’s #Health4AllRivers initiative in ensuring that no resident of the state is left behind.
Speaking, Lead Pastor of the church, Dr. Tombari Gbeneol, said that a complete being is one who enjoys both spiritual, emotional and physical health, hence the decision of the church to gift some members the RIVCHPP insurance scheme to save them health embarrassment.
Also, the Head, Marketing and Business Development of RIVCHPP, Kingsley Ngini, urged communities, philanthropists and well-meaning members of the society to partner RIVCHPP in gifting health insurance policy to their members, family, friends and associates, saying that such gifts have the capacity of making the beneficiaries continue to enjoy quality health care services.
Ngini, who made the call while addressing members of the Ihiala Women’s Association, Port Harcourt Chapter, also sensitized the people on the benefits of enrolling into the programme, assuring them that RIVCHPP’s programmes afford them the opportunity of accessing quality healthcare services without passing through financial hardship.
Responding, President of the Association pledged to enroll its members collectively as a group, including their families, seeing the benefits that would accrue to them.
Meanwhile, the RIVCHPP has received the support and commendation from the Deputy Governor of the state, Prof. Ngozi Mma Odu and Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barrister Benebo Anabraba, as the agency marks the second year of existence and positive contributions to the state’s health insurance.
The Deputy Governor who applauded RIVCHPP for the work it has been doing since it was inaugurated two years ago, especially in ensuring that all cadre of Rivers residents have access to quality healthcare services without paying heavily from their pockets, pledged the state government’s continual support to ensure that more Rivers residents enjoy good health.
Speaking further, Prof. Odu stated that Governor Fubara the utmost interest in the health of the people informed his resolute decision to invest heavily in the provision of modern health care services and infrastructures in the state.
In his intervention, Anabraba assured that as long as RIVCHPP’s the programmes and packages impact the people of the state positively, the government would continue to accord it the necessary support.
Tentacle recalled that in appreciation of all that the state government has been doing for RIVCHPP and in commemoration of its second year anniversary, Dr. Agala embarked on a thank you visit to the Deputy Governor and the Secretary to the State Government.
During the visit, Dr. Agala appreciated Governor Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Odu, Barr. Anabraba and Dr. Oreh for their leadership roles and the immense support accorded the RIVCHPP in the last two years.
Dr. Agala also used opportunity of the second year anniversary to appreciate all partners, sister agencies, RIVCHPP team members, health facilitators and the numerous enrollees for believing and buying into RIVCHPP’s vision and goal, while assuring that the agency would continue to improve on its mandate.
The Executive Secretary of RIVCHPP restated that RIVCHPP has catered for hundreds of birth deliveries, both cesarean and vaginal, numerous surgeries and countless ailments of Rivers residents, imploring everyone in Rivers State to endeavour to enroll with the agency in order to enjoy seamless and affordable health care services.
