Shama Ahanta East intensifies sensitisation programme on NHIS

Sekondi, April 20 GNA - The Shama-Ahanta East Health Insurance Scheme has intensified its sensitisation programme to cover 56 electoral areas, Mr Frank Kofi Baffoe, Publicity Coordinator of the Scheme, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview on Tuesday. He said so far, the programme had been held in 21 electoral areas including Amanful West and East and Presbyterian electoral areas in Takoradi.
Others are Essikado East and West, Effiakuma East and West, Anaji, East Tanokrom, Zongo Estate, Aboadze, Abuesi, Neyiresia, Essaman and Nkotompo electoral areas.
The rest were Essikafoambantem Number One and Two, Old Adra, Apremdo, Zenith and Mpeasem electoral areas. Mr. Baffoe said it was necessary to sensitise and register people before the implementation of the scheme began in the Metropolis. He said people between the ages of 18 and 60 years in the formal and informal sectors were eligible to join the scheme and pay their contributions.
Mr Baffoe said people under 18 and those above 60 years would be registered for the scheme but would not pay any contribution, as they would be catered for by the Health Insurance Fund to be set up by the government.
Another group that would not pay any contribution but would receive free medical care under the scheme were the poor or people without identifiable and regular source of income.
Mr Baffoe said all registered members of the scheme would be provided with identity cards and could seek treatment at any of the accredited health facilities to be determined by the scheme. He said health insurance committees would be formed in communities in the electoral areas to assist in the implementation of the scheme while chairmen of the committees would form the Metropolitan Health Insurance Assembly as a decision making body.