The President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) Eze, Sir Mike Elechi, NPOM, JP, FNIM, DSSRS has commended the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara GSSRS for the implementation of Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme.
He gave the commendation while speaking as a guest during the opening ceremony of the contributory Health Protection Programme office in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, saying that the implementation has put to rest some impediments on health benefits to Rivers people, adding that health is wealth hence the need to work with business Community for the general interest of those leaving and doing business in Rivers State and congratulated Dr. Vetty Agala on her emergence as the Acting Executive Secretary of the Agency.
In her speech, the Acting Executive Secretary of Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Program, Dr. Vetty Agala explained that the journey towards achieving State Health Contributory services by providing financial risk protection especially for the vulnerable people and those who cannot afford for themselves started during the administration of Sir Dr. Peter Odili as Governor in 2000.
Dr. Agala maintained that the state assembly enacted the law in 2021 while implementation was in January 2023 with her emergence as the Acting Executive Secretary.
Inaugurating the office for public use, the Hon. Commissioner for Health Dr. Adaeze Ureh described the event as an emotional one being the very first she presented to the Governor on assumption of duty as Commissioner for Health. She noted that Rivers State being the last state to commence the financial health service protection program will afford them the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of other states and charged Dr. Agala and her team not to hesitate in ensuring that the purpose of establishing the state Contributory Health Protection Program is achieved. The highlight of the event was the tape cutting by the Hon. Commissioner of Health to declare the office open for public use.
