The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has launched a free National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) registration exercise for beneficiaries of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty, (LEAP) programme.

The LEAP programme is to provide cash grants to the extremely poor and vulnerable persons in society so that they could meet their basic needs for survival.

The exercise forms part of government’s intervention to remove financial burden which was preventing access to quality health services and protecting poor people from the impoverishing effects of medical expenses.

The aim is to ensure the well-being of vulnerable children, the poor, the aged, orphans, disabled, women and infants below the age of one year and make sure there was an equitable education and promotion of life-long learning opportunities for all.

Nana Oye Lithur, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, said government recognised the importance of access to quality health care and had, therefore, collaborated with the National Health Insurance Authority to register the poor and the vulnerable on to the scheme free of charge.

She said a total of 82,154 out of the 147,881 beneficiary households had been registered and benefiting from the NHIS.

“As government we are happy that more poor and vulnerable people would get access to quality health care through this initiative.

“This, we believe, would enhance the employability of poor people and increase their earning capacities,” she said.

Nana Oye Lithur, thus, implored all the beneficiaries to take advantage of the exercise to improve their living and health conditions.

She also expressed gratitude to the NHIA for their efforts in ensuring the beneficiaries had access to quality health care.

Mr Nathaniel Otoo, the Chief Executive of the National Health Insurance Authority, said the scheme had expanded the renewal date of the NHIS card to two years to prevent them from going through the registration process in a short time.

He said the 13 year old NHIS was currently undergoing its first ever comprehensive review to make the scheme more sustainable, efficient, effective and accountable.

The review, Mr Otoo said, had proposed that coverage be extended to 100 per cent of the population with a guaranteed primary, maternal and child health care package.

Nii Largyea Afotey Agbo, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, urged stakeholders to continue to play their part to compliment government’s efforts for the development of the nation.

In attendance were Mr Franklyn Anku, Municipal Chief Executive, La Nkwantanang Madina Municipal Assembly, Chief of La Nkwantanang Madina Traditional Area, Chief Imam of Madina, Officials of NHIA, Officials of LEAP, and Mr Ahmadu Sorogho, the MP of Madina Constituency.