Kade, Dec. 5, GNA - The Kwaebibirem District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) has made great strides in its enrolment drive with a membership of 134,000, representing 66.63 percent of the district population of 196,992. Speaking at the second Annual General Meeting of the scheme at Kade the Board Chairman, Dr Edward Narh Nuertey, expressed the hope that by the end of 2009, 90 percent of the district's population would have been registered.

Dr Nuertey said the scheme had registered 1,750 pregnant women who are accessing healthcare in accordance with the government's quest to curb the high rate of infant and maternal healthcare policy under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).

He said children up to three months are also accessing healthcare with their mothers Identity (ID) cards under that policy. In an address read for him Mr Collins Danso, Eastern Regional Manager of the NHIA, said the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), being a major component of the poverty reduction strategy of the government, had helped to make health care easily accessible to Ghanaians, especially the poor and the vulnerable. He said despite few challenges facing its implementation, Ghana's Health Insurance had gained international acclamation as one of the best social protection policies in Africa. Outlining some of the new policies introduced by the NHIA this year, Mr Danso said a new NHIA ID cards had been introduced to be used by registered members across the country. The new card would be used alongside the old ones until everybody was issued with the new one.

He said the NHIA was in the process of networking all district schemes and accredited health facilities in the country. Mr Danso said upon completion of the project, providers would be able to authenticate client membership at the facility level before services are provided.

He said it was envisaged that claims submitted by providers could be vetted electronically to reduce delays in processing them. Touching on a scheme that enables pregnant women to access maternal health services free of charge, Mr Danso said it was made to reduce maternal mortality.

He appealed to women not to abuse the policy since giving birth to too many children could affect their health and also put undue financial burden on the household.