Episode #122: Do You Have Health Insurance?

Let me start with a simple question: Do you have health insurance? Not whether you've heard of it. Not whether you intend to get it someday. But right now, if a medical emergency happened today, would you be protected? Across Nigeria, millions of people remain one illness, one surgery, or one hospitalization away from financial hardship. Healthcare costs continue to rise, and for many families, a medical emergency quickly becomes not just a health crisis, but a financial one. Yet health insurance remains one of the most underutilized tools for protecting individuals and families from these shocks. Today's conversation goes beyond the concept of health insurance itself. We want to understand what progress is being made, what challenges remain, how programs like the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme are expanding access, and why health insurance should no longer be viewed as an option for a few, but a necessity for everyone. Again, today, the topic on Canvas is “Do you have health insurance?” And my guest is DR. VETTY AGALA. Dr. Vetty Agala is the National Coordinator, Medical Women's Association of Nigeria, Past President, MWAN Rivers State, Immediate Past Vice Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association, Rivers State Branch. She is also the Ag. Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP)..