Rivers State Governor Siminialayi Fubara has launched a health insurance programme, making affordable healthcare a reality for all residents of the state.

The Governor recently Operationalised the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme, signed into law in 2021, which made provision for both government workers and private citizens to contribute token amounts to a common fund.

The programe’s Acting Executive Secretary, Dr. Vetty Agala, said the innovative scheme promises to revolutionize healthcare in Rivers State.

Dr. Agala, who made the clarification while addressing Rivers people during the 2024 Civil Service Week in Port Harcourt, said though free medical care was not new in Rivers State, due to the exigencies in the health sector.

He said the Governor had revived the moribund policy through health insurance and also ensured that the funds are highly subsidized to make more and more people, especially the vulnerable and poor, access affordable health care within the State.

Agala stated that according to a household survey carried out by Rivers State Ministry of Health in 2022, less than 5% of the State population does not know anything about health insurance, and less than 4% of the population is covered by any form of health insurance.

She called on the people to embrace the contributory health programme not only to improve their health status but to also help them reduce how much they spend in getting quality health services.

Dr. Agala declared that the National Health Insurance Authority Act of 2022 stipulates that health insurance should be mandatory for everyone and that Rivers State Government has keyed into that all-important provision, saying that the Scheme will continue to churn out health promotion activities so that the workforce in Rivers can benefit and stay healthy.

The Executive Secretary, however, expressed optimism that with the programme, which is on course, the health coverage of the State will be accelerated to meet up with the target 8 Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.