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GOV. FUBARA URGES LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMEN TO TAKE HEALTH INSURANCE TO THE GRASSROOTS.

Rivers State Governor,  Sir Siminialayi Fubara, GSSRS,  has urged the chairmen of local governments in the state and health workers to replicate health insurance schemes in the grass-roots,  saying that the government counts on their dedication to ensure the success of health insurance which is a wonderful initiative,  encouraging all Rivers people to embrace the opportunity of the scheme to enrol into the health insurance programme even as they spread the message of the scheme to all and sundry.

Gov. Fubara, represented by the Deputy Governor,  Prof.  Ngozi Nma Odu,  who made the call in Ahoada Town during the launch of Kingdom Health Mandate for Rivers West Senatorial District initiative,  a constituency project powered by Sen.Dr Ipalibo Banigo,  in collaboration with National Health Insurance Authority,  described the initiative as a significant milestone and a visionary programme that will bring quality health care directly to the doorsteps of the people of Rivers West Senatorial District.

The State Governor,  who also said that a healthy population is the foundation for a prosperous society,  emphasised that the initiative is to complement the state government's efforts in reducing the burden of the people paying for their health care needs,  commending the collaborative action which he averred will help the state to achieve greater mileage in the accessibility to health care,  even as it would help thousands of Rivers citizens to access health care without the burden the burden of paying from their pockets at the point of receiving health care services.

Gov. Fubara then used the opportunity to express gratitude to Senator Ipalibo Banigo for her tireless legislative work and her passion for improving the health care of the people,  saying that her efforts are transforming lives, and complementing the State government's health care initiatives.

Earlier in her speech,  the initiator of the Kingdom Health Mandate for Rivers West Senatorial District initiative and the Senator representing Rivers West Senatorial District,  Sen. Dr.  Ipalibo Banigo explained that the launch of the initiative is not just a fulfilment of her campaign promises to the people of Rivers West Senatorial District but a fulfilment of a desire and passion to have the people enriched with good health without being burdened on how to pay and access health care,  urging the people to fully utilise the services now available to them for their own benefits.

Senator Banigo thanked Governor Fubara for all that he has been doing for Rivers people in every facet of governance,  especially for making the health insurance programme become functional in the state many years after the law was signed into law.

In a goodwill message at the event,  the Commissioner for Health,  Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh,  represented by the Executive Secretary,  Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board , Prof.  Kinikanwo Innocent Green,  applauded the foresightedness of Senator Ipalibo Banigo for her initiative in the health sector which is very strategic and commendable,  pleading with the people that will be enrolled in the Kingdom Health Mandate initiative to ensure maximum utilisation of the rare privilege to be beneficiaries.

Also giving a goodwill,  the Director General of National Health Insurance Authority,  Dr.  Kelechi Ohiri commended Sen Banigo for choosing health insurance as her constituency project,  which,  according to him,  has made her poised to return dignity and humanity to the people by restoring the health of her constituents through the health insurance.

Dr. Ohiri quipped that a lot of death from sicknesses is a result of the people's inability to access health care due to extreme poverty that hinders them from paying for healthcare services,  expressing optimism that through the Kingdom Health Mandate initiative,  there will be improvement in the health of the people and a reduction in their out of pocket expenditure,  especially on health care issues. 

In her goodwill,  the Acting Executive Secretary of Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme [RIVCHPP], Dr VettyAgala thanked Sen.Dr Ipalibo Banigo for taking on health insurance for the people of Rivers West Senatorial District, also thanking Sir Siminialayi Fubara,  GSSRS,  for his dogged disposition in ensuring that the health insurance scheme becomes functional in the state, making the State one of the very last in the country to have the programme come on board.

Dr. Agala reiterated that in just about 8 months of RIVCHPP being functional,  the agency has successfully enrolled over 40,000 lives who are already accessing health care across the different local government areas of the State,  expressing the appreciation of the agency towards the additional lives that the Kingdom Health Mandate initiative is bringing on board the health insurance scheme,  emphasising that RIVCHPP is always interested in the universal health coverage of all that live and work in the State accessing health care services when and where they need it without paying out of their pockets or going through any form of financial hardship.

The RIVCHPP Executive Secretary thanked Sen.Dr Banigo for the initiative and the National Health Insurance Authority [NHIA] for choosing RIVCHPP to work with in the state , announcing that the agency is open for more and more collaborations that will bring more Rivers people under health insurance coverage.

At the event were chairmen and vice chair persons of the 8 local government councils that make up Rivers West Senatorial District,  traditional rulers,  the clergy, men, women,  and youths of the Senatorial District.