The people of Rivers State have greatly commended the healthcare policies of Rivers State Government, under the able leadership of Sir Siminialayi Fubara, while appreciating the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh and all health stakeholders for ensuring that the laudable programmes and policies of the governor trickle down to everyone living in the state, especially those residing in rural areas.
The commendations and views of the people were expressed during the town hall meeting of Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) with its enrollees in Opobo Nkoro Local Government Area on Friday, 28th, and advocacy visits to traditional insinuations of Etche Local Government Area on Saturday, 29th November, 2025.
In Opobo Town, where so many beneficiaries of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), who had had free healthcare services free of charge, testified of how much the programmes of RIVCHPP have helped them to access quality healthcare services without passing through financial hardship .
The people commended the governor for the programme, encouraging him to do more, even as they asked that another medical doctor be posted to the Opobo Model Primary Health Centre to support the medical officer in charge of the centre, who they see as overworking himself.
On his part, the Medical Officer of Health for Opobo Nkoro Local Government Area, Dr. Dennis Alege Soberekon and the Officer in charge of the Model Primary Health Centre, Opobo Town, Dr. Nnamdi Eze stated that the introduction of RIVCHPP has not only reduced mortality among the people but has greatly improved the health seeking behaviour of the people in the area.
Earlier, in their separate speeches, the Executive Secretary of RIVCHPP, Dr. Vetty Agala, represented by the Director of Administration, RIVCHPP, Dr. Emmyson Emeka Emordi, and the Head, Health Services Department of RIVCHPP, Dr. Barinem Dimkpa said that the town hall meeting became necessary when the health insurance agency realised that only 2831 persons are enrolled under the RIVCHPP scheme in Opobo Nkoro Local Government Area with just 402 of them registered with their national identification number (NIN), which is a prerequisite to continue to access care. The town hall meeting is to seek ways that the people of Opobo Nkoro Local Government Area can benefit maximally from the programmes and packages of RIVCHPP.
The RIVCHPP officials then called upon the authorities of Opobo Nkoro Local Government Area and all elites of the area to come to the aid of the people by arranging for them to have ease in the registration for their national identification numbers (NIN ), and to see how they can pay for indigent persons in the area that may not qualify for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
Responding on behalf of the Chairman of Opobo Nkoro Local Government Area, Barr. James A James, the Vice-Chairman of the Council, and Supervisor for Health, Mrs. Gladys Daniel Legg-Jack, who thanked the Governor for making RIVCHPP functional for the benefit of Rivers residents.
Mrs. Legg-Jack pledged the readiness of the council to partner RIVCHPP in liaising with officials of the National Identification Management Commission (NIMC) to come down to the Local Gvernmentt Area for quick access and ease of registration for the national identification number by the people in the area, thanking RIVCHPP for calling for the town hall meeting.
In another development, the health insurance agency has called on traditional rulers to partner RIVCHPP in not only bringing information of what the agency is doing for the people but to also ensure that persons in their domains benefit from this laudable programme of government.
RIVCHPP’s position was made by its Executive Secretary, Dr Vetty Agala, during the health insurance agency’s advocacy meetings with HRH Eze Ken Nwala JP, Onye Ishi Agwuru Ulakwo/ Umusele clan of Etche in Nihi Etche, and His Royal Majesty, King Dr. Samuel Ndiwe Amaechi JP, Onye Ishi Agwuru Igbo Kingdom.
The Executive Secretary of RIVCHPP, represented by Dr. Emmyson Emeka Emordi, RIVCHPP’s Director of Administration, solicited the partnership of the royal fathers in intimating their subjects of the beneficial programmes and packages of RIVCHPP, even as they help to facilitate the registration of the people in their domains to enjoy the Rivcare packages of RIVCHPP.
Also speaking at the advocacy visits, the leader of RIVCHPP’s delegation and board member of RIVCHPP, Pharm. Promise Anele stated that it would be a disservice to humanity if residents of the state are not made aware of the laudable health policies of Governor Siminialayi Fubara to the people, enjoining the people of Etche nationality to embrace RIVCHPP by registering for their national identification number (NIN), which will entitle them to enrol into RIVCHPP’s health insurance packages.
The royal fathers visited all appreciated and commended the information shared with them by RIVCHPP officials, promising to cascade the information to their subjects in their various domains.
They promised to partner RIVCHPP to see to it that residents in their domains get enrolled into RIVCHPP’s programmes.
In addition, HRH Eze (Dr.) Ken Nwala, JP, directed the enrolment of 20 of his subjects, present at the Palace at the time of the visit, into the Rivcare package of RIVCHPP, which he paid for.
Idanye Oruigoni
Head, Information/Public Relations Unit,
RIVCHPP.