Savelugu NPP PC joins 2nd Lady, others to commission new Savelugu NHIS office

Hajia Fatahiya Abdul Aziz, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for the Savelugu Constituency, whose lobbying efforts led to the construction of a new office for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the Savelugu Municipality, has joined Ghana’s Second Lady and other dignitaries to commission the facility.

Hajia Fatahiya, a staff member in the Office of the President, participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the project earlier this year. The newly completed office, finished within eight months, provides a dedicated space for NHIS operations, replacing rented accommodations previously used by Savelugu NHIS officials. The project was fully funded by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) as part of its modernization and infrastructure expansion agenda.

Savelugu was initially not included in the current phase of office construction; however, it was added after significant lobbying by Hajia Fatahiya. Speaking at the ceremony, she highlighted the importance of providing accessible, quality healthcare for the people of Savelugu.

The commissioning event on October 24, 2024, also featured Ghana’s Second Lady, Hajia Samira Bawumia, alongside the NHIA Chief Executive, Dr. Da-Costa Aboagye. In her address, Hajia Samira commended the NHIA for its efforts to make the NHIS more accessible to Ghanaians. She noted that, over the past 20 years, the NHIS has significantly influenced the healthcare-seeking behavior of many people across the country. She praised the current administration's commitment to healthcare development, describing the investments as "unprecedented" and referencing the "Agenda 111" project as a landmark initiative.

Hajia Samira also encouraged Ghanaians to prioritize their health by embracing NHIA’s Preventive, Promotive, and Wellness programs.

Dr. Da-Costa Aboagye credited the NHIA's recent achievements to Ghana’s national digitalization agenda, spearheaded by Vice President Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. He highlighted NHIA's digital initiatives, such as the E-pharmacy project, the nationwide registration of children aged 6-14 in collaboration with the National Identification Authority (NIA), and the MyNHIS App.

He also noted recent NHIS benefits expansions, which include coverage for four mental health conditions, dialysis treatment, four types of childhood cancers, and improvements in claim payment processes for credentialed healthcare providers. Dr. Da-Costa Aboagye further called for collective action to stop illegal charges imposed by some healthcare providers, emphasizing the need for transparency and fairness in healthcare delivery.