A two-day capacity-building programme for Medical Directors and Heads of Insurance Officers in Rivers State on onboarding health facilities for RIVCARE implementation has taken off in Port Harcourt.
Speaking during the programme, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Prof. Justina Jumbo charged Health personnel in public and private healthcare facilities across Rivers State to fast-track the enrollment of residents into the Rivers State Health Insurance Scheme (RIVCHPP) to enable more people benefit from affordable healthcare services.
Prof Jumbo pointed out that effective data gathering remains crucial to the success of the scheme, noting that Rivers State joined the programme later than some other states and must intensify efforts to close existing gaps.
The Permanent Secretary urged healthcare providers to begin enrollment within their immediate circles, including family members and patients visiting their facilities, stressing that timely processing and issuance of enrollee identification codes would encourage greater participation.
Highlighting the financial benefits of the scheme, she cited cases where insured patients paid significantly less for medical services compared to those paying out of pocket, describing the initiative as a major relief for residents facing rising healthcare costs.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of RIVCHPP, Dr. Vetty Agala, said the state government, under Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has directed that all health workers in Rivers State be enrolled in the scheme free of charge.
According to her, the programme currently covers over 140,000 residents across the 23 local government areas of the state, with most beneficiaries accessing services through primary healthcare centres and selected private hospitals. She added that ongoing renovation and commissioning of zonal hospitals are expected to strengthen referral services and improve healthcare access across the state.
Agala acknowledged challenges such as manpower shortages, power supply issues and network constraints but expressed optimism that collaboration among stakeholders would help expand universal health coverage in the state.
Participants at the training commended the initiative, saying it provided deeper insight into enrollment procedures, claims management and service delivery standards. Some noted that the training would help them enroll more patients in their facilities and improve healthcare access.
They also called for continued engagement between the health insurance agency and private hospitals to address operational concerns and ensure balanced participation across both public and private healthcare sectors.
The Rivers State Health Insurance Scheme is designed to provide residents with access to quality healthcare services without financial hardship, in line with broader efforts to expand universal health coverage in the state.
