Church Registers 2 Families For NHIS

The Koforidua Diocese of the St Peter's Anglican Church has registered two children and their parents on the National Health Insurance Scheme at the Koforidua Central Hospital.

They are Ms. Vivian Ayisi Kumi, a trader at Amanfrom in the Akwapim North District, and her five-year-old son, Kwadwo Atakora, on the one hand,  and Grace Mantebea from Okorase near Koforidua, and her two year old daughter, Patience Ayitor.

Both children were suffering from malaria and malnutrition.

The church is also negotiating with the hospital authorities to adopt the Children's Ward of the hospital.

Ms. Mantebea commended the nurses for providing food and drugs from their own resources to care for her little girl, adding that if she had not met them she would have lost her child.

According to Mantebea, her husband was dead and none of her relatives were ready to assist her to cater for the children.  

Vivian Ayisi, on her part, said her husband left them when he heard that the child had been admitted to the hospital because he had no money  and if his in-laws heard this,  it would be a disgrace to him.

Vivian who is pregnant, already has three children.

When the Times asked them whether they were aware of the NHIS, they replied in the affirmative  but said they had no money to get registered.

The two women's stories touched the hearts of the leaders of the church, led by the Very Fr. Sam Biney (Dean of the church), who had come to pray for  children at the hospital. The church also donated assorted food items to the children.

The Very Fr Biney announced that the church would register them with the NHIS by the end of this week so that they would not pay any more bills.

He said the St. Peter's Cathedral would soon meet with the hospital's administration to find ways of adopting the Children's Wards .