Explain NHIS to parents - students urged

Senya-Beraku (C/R), Jan. 30, GNA - Students in higher institutions of learning, Senior and Junior Secondary Schools have been urged to educate their parents and relatives who have not registered with the various district health insurance schemes to do so.

Mr Joseph Yaw Owusu-Kwarteng, Public Relations Officer of the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (AESDMHIS), was addressing a cross section of people at Senya-Beraku on the importance of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). The discussion was part of a special drama performed by a group of artistes from the National Theatre to sensitise people in rural communities in particular, on the NHIS.

Mr Owusu-Kwarteng said students had a crucial role to play in getting the Health Insurance message to the people at the grassroots level to enable them to benefit from the policy. He said the active involvement of parents in the scheme would go a long way to cover children below 18 years when they fall sick while in school or during vacation.

During question time, some of the spectators asked whether they could source healthcare with the identification cards being issued them by the District Scheme anywhere in the country when they fall sick, but the PRO quickly replied in the negative.

Mr Owusu-Kwarteng explained that even though it was Government plan to place all Health Insurance Schemes under one network to enable clients to enjoy free healthcare wherever they may find themselves in the country, that plan had not been implemented.

Addressing about 500 people, including school children who witnessed a similar show at Awutu-Bawjiase, Mr Benjamin K. Essel, a member of the Bawjiase Area Council and Assemblyman for Nyarkokwaa electoral area praised school authorities, muslim leaders, drivers union and the Police for helping to make the sensitisation exercise a success. Mr Essel charged all qualified people in the area, who have not registered to do so and advised registered clients who had not paid their premiums to do so as early as possible to enable them to obtain their cards.