Gov`t is working on one-time NHIS premium -Benyiwa Doe

The Central Regional Minister, Ms. Ama Benyiwa Doe, says the government is working around the clock to ensure that the one-time premium payment for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) becomes a reality.

Speaking at a matriculation ceremony of 225 fresh students of the Health Assistants Training School at Twifo Praso on Wednesday, she said the government aimed at improving health services delivery as promised, therefore, everything possible would be done to achieve that goal.

Touching on the establishment of the school, Ms. Benyiwa Doe portrayed political maturity as she commended the former Deputy Health Minister, Abraham Dwuma Odoom, and the Twifo Praso District Assembly for their foresight in establishing the nursing training school in the Twifo Praso District.

She also expressed her gratitude to the Traditional Council for releasing the old Senior High School structures for the commencement of the school in 2007.

Ms. Benyiwa Doe advised the students not to be perturbed by the numerous challenges they faced as a new institution, but forge ahead to aspire to greater heights.

“You must count yourselves lucky to have been selected to pursue this course out of the lot of people who applied for consideration. I urge you to be focused, committed and dedicated to your books, study hard and in the end, success will crown your efforts”, the minister told the students.

She said the Regional Coordinating Council would collaborate with the assembly to provide basic infrastructure for the school. She also donated GH¢1,000 to the school.

The Principal of the Health Assistants Training School, Mrs. Joyce Abaka Quansah, in her welcome address, said the school was the only tertiary institution in the district, and appealed to the government to resource it.

She said the school started with 150 students in September 2007, but now had a student population of 375, and owned a 74 acre piece of land on which various departments could be built.

Nana Nkwantabisa, Chief of Twifo Anyinase, who represented Nana Appiah Nuama, Omanhen of the Twifo Traditional Area, called on the school authorities to ensure protocol allocations for all the paramount areas in the district in the recruitment of students for the school, to enable students in the catchment areas have access to the school.

A Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, Physics Department, Prof. P. K. Basuah, a native of the area, appealed to the school authorities to work hard to move the school from its certificate awarding status, to diploma.

Prof. Basuah inaugurated a five-member stakeholder committee, to support the administration of the school.

The Omanhen of the Hemang Traditional Area, Otumfuo Amoah Ansah Sasraku who chaired the function, called on the government to do more to uplift the school, in terms of infrastructure provision.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Atti Morkwaa, Mrs. Elizabeth Amoah Tetteh, donated GH¢500 to the school.