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09.09.2005 Gossips

NHIS to generate funds for NPP?

09.09.2005 LISTEN
By GNA

Do not politicise NHIS - Bukari Tumu, Sept. 9, GNA - Rumours are rife within Sissala East and West Districts in the Upper West Region that contributions towards the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) are to generate funds for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government to campaign in the 2008 elections. The District Secretariat of the Scheme has therefore, initiated discussions with chiefs, Assembly members and other opinion leaders to help educate the people and encourage them to register and participate in the Scheme.

Mr. Sulemana Bukari, Sissala District Scheme Manager who announced this at the launching of the Scheme at Tumu, regretted that some people continued to peddle rumours on the Scheme after an intensified educational programme in the districts.

He said another group of people had adopted a 'Wait and see' attitude on the effective implementation of the Scheme before they would register.

Mr. Bukari said although registering to participate in the Scheme was not compulsory, the Secretariat would endeavour to intensify the educational programme to ensure most of the people participate to benefit from better health care delivery under the Scheme. Mr. George Hikah Benson, Deputy Upper West Regional Minister said with the high rate of poverty in the country the Scheme was the better option to alleviate poverty of the people.

He appealed to Management of the Scheme to continue with their educational programmes to well-inform the people on the advantages of the Scheme.

Mr. Alexis Domapielle, Sissala East District Coordinating Director said 110 out of the 115 communities in the two districts had already been covered under the Scheme and called on people in the other communities to register for a successful take off. He said about 7,659 in both the formal and the informal sectors had registered with the Scheme and 57.6 million cedis realised in premiums paid.

An 11-member Board of Directors was sworn into office to supervise the implementation of the Scheme in the districts.

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