The Acting Executive Secretary of Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr. Vetty Agala, has called on Civil Service and student associations to develop programs that improve their welfare, particularly in the area of healthcare.
During an advocacy visit to Rivers State Television, Dr. Agala urged civil servants to embrace the government’s programs, highlighting the administration’s prioritization of healthcare.
Dr. Agala emphasized that Governor Siminialayi Fubara’s administration has introduced the contributory health insurance scheme to reduce the financial burden on residents, including students.
According to her, the scheme is a pocket-friendly health insurance scheme for all categories of persons in the state.
She maintained that although the scheme is not entirely free, its affordability makes it accessible to everyone, regardless of their state of origin.
She highlighted two packages, Civil Servants: 5% of basic salary and Self-Employed (Sim jara package): N15,000 annually emphasizing that both packages offer similar quality healthcare services, ensuring that everyone can access medical care without financial burden.
She noted that the contributory health insurance scheme enables certain categories of people to access healthcare services without paying out-of-pocket expenses.
The RIVCHPP aims to increase awareness and encourage participation in the contributory health insurance scheme, ensuring that residents, including students, benefit from the government’s healthcare initiatives.
This move, she adds, demonstrates the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of its citizens, particularly in the areas of healthcare and education.
By engaging student associations and civil servants, the government seeks to promote a culture of healthcare accessibility and affordability.
She admonished the students to remain committed to their studies and begin to imbibe the ethics of the profession they are training in, assuring them that the agency would take up some of their concerns with the management of their institution.
