The United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is set to partner with the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) to enrol people living with HIV and other vulnerable persons in the state health insurance scheme.
The partnership was announced in a statement signed by Idanye Oruigoni, Head of Information and Public Relations Unit, RIVCHPP.
The proposed partnership was discussed during an advocacy visit by a delegation comprising representatives of the US CDC, the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) and the Rivers State Ministry of Health to the RIVCHPP office.
Speaking during the visit, the team lead and Country Director of the US CDC, Meegha Desai, said the stakeholders were exploring sustainable health financing mechanisms for people living with HIV and other vulnerable members of society.
Desai said the engagement was aimed at identifying strategies to expand enrolment and improve retention under the state health insurance scheme.
The stakeholders urged RIVCHPP to develop effective strategies for identifying the poorest and most vulnerable persons in the state, while promoting public awareness and education on the benefits of health insurance.
They also called for measures to expand mandatory health coverage and explore alternative funding sources, stressing that overdependence on government funding for health insurance was not sustainable.
In her response, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of RIVCHPP, Dr. Vetty Agala, represented by the agency’s Head of Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr. Juliet Aleme, said the programme remained open to partnerships that would increase health insurance coverage across Rivers State.
Agala commended the US CDC for its support in developing RIVCHPP’s operational guidelines, actuarial studies and benefit package.
She also called on stakeholders, organisations, multinational companies and local governments to sponsor health insurance policies for people within their reach, particularly vulnerable persons and those living with chronic illnesses in their areas of operation.
The engagement is expected to strengthen efforts to expand access to affordable healthcare and improve health insurance coverage for vulnerable populations in Rivers State.
