Fubara inaugurates Rivers health insurance scheme

Siminalayi Fubara, the Rivers State Governor, has inaugurated the state’s Contributory Health Insurance Scheme.

The scheme will offer households a measure of financial protection against healthcare costs and help sort out inconsistency in the provision of available services.

While administering the scheme so that the most vulnerable in society were not deprived of accessing healthcare services, he also tasked the manager of the scheme to be unbiased.

The governor, who became the first to be enrolled in the scheme, followed by his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, said the scheme must foster inclusive and equitable healthcare access for the people of the state.

This was contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nelson Chukwudi.

It would be recalled that the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme Bill was signed into law on June 21, 2021, but was never implemented until Fubara reactivated the programme to enable residents and people of the state who want health insurance to participate in the scheme.

Fubara after inaugurating the Comprehensive Primary Health Centre in Ndoni Town in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state said, “With what I am seeing here, we didn’t make any mistake in ensuring that the Health Insurance Programme commenced in our state. It is to increase access to healthcare for the people.

“With this, most families that cannot afford expensive healthcare services outside their means can leverage this service that has been rolled out.

“But it is proper for me to also add that while we are doing this, we shouldn’t undermine the scheme. The services should be properly utilised and the funds released should be applied prudently to achieve the purpose.”

The acting Executive Secretary of the scheme, Dr Vetty Agala, on her part, said the scheme will enhance chances of achieving universal access to healthcare services in the state.

“Today, we are here to flag off the enrollment of the scheme. Your Excellency, we want to thank you for graciously permitting and approving the Rivers State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme to be implemented”, Agala said.

“Rivers people can now, indeed, access healthcare without having to pay at the point of service. At all of our programmes, women, people living with disability, the elderly, and children under five years old can walk into this centre or where they are registered, show their cards and be attended to free of charge.”