• admin

RIVCHPP IS ONE AGENCY THAT'S ALWAYS AHEAD OF TIME ... DR. WACHUKWU.

The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr.  Vincent Wachukwu has described Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), as presently constituted, as an agency that is always ahead of time to see that it does not fail in the mandate given to it.

Dr. Wachukwu, who made the statement in his remarks at the opening of a 2-day strategic planning co-creation workshop for RIVCHPP's five- year  strategic plan in Port Harcourt on  Wednesday,  August 26th, 2026, said that the workshop is apt and very important.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, who also commended the Executive Secretary and management of RIVCHPP for the way they do their work, however, said that there are still so many unreached Rivers residents, urging the workshop to come up with plans and programmes of how more and more residents can be enrolled as to enjoy the benefits of the programme with minimal out of pocket spending.

Dr. Wachukwu, who on behalf of his office, the Ministry of Health, and Rivers State Government, welcomed all to the workshop, expressed optimism that the outcome of the workshop will be one that would be applauded.

Earlier in the welcome remarks, the Chairman of RIVCHPP board, Prof.  Chike Princewill, represented by the Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer of Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr.  Vetty Agala made it clear that health insurance is not just a policy but a promise for all Rivers residents to make a choice between going bankrupt and getting quality and affordable healthcare services at the point of need.

Dr. Agala said that for the past two years, RIVCHPP has made progress in enrolment, provider engagement, and claims management, saying that for the agency to reach universal health coverage, its processes have to be deliberate, data-driven, and there has to be a need to allign with its mission and vision.

The Executive Secretary said that the training workshop was to interrogate the agency's data, review lessons from the past, benchmark best practices, and agree on bold but achievable priorities.

Dr. Agala then urged all participants at the workshop to engage with openness and candour, and make use of robust debate with bold connectedness, expressing the view that the document to be churned out will help to guide the agency's budgeting,  programmings, and partnerships for the next five years.

The Executive Secretary of RIVCHPP also used the opportunity, on behalf of the board and management, to thank the State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, GSSRS, for all his unwavering commitment to the health of the people, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health for providing policy direction, and the development partners especially CHAI for their technical support.

In a goodwill message at the event, the Eze Gbakagbaka of Evo kingdom, Eze Leslie Eke, mentioned that there are obvious problems and challenges mitigating against the operations of RIVCHPP, opining that the agency should be supported by all. 
Also, giving a goodwill message at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs. Uzoma Ibinye, represented by the Director of Budget of the Ministry, Dr. Igochukwu Wali, who commended RIVCHPP for the workshop, stated that the Ministry's interest is to see to it that there are figures attached to the strategic plans that would be drawn up, saying that is the only way to give rise to proper budgeting. 
It would be recalled that the training workshop, which is sponsored by Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), is being attended by, among others, representation from line MDAs, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Academia, NGOs, Renaissance Energy Ltd., 10xbeta, health service providers, and other partners and stakeholders.

Idanye Oruigoni

Head, Information/ Public Relations Unit, 
RIVCHPP. 
26/08/2026.