Government has through the Ministry of Health (MoH) released 3.98 billion cedis under the highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) benefits to eight districts to support them implement their health insurance schemes.

The districts, which received between 100 million cedis and 500 million cedis, are Abura-Asebu, Kwaebibrem, Juabeso-Bia, Hohoe, Builsa, Assin, Wa and Ejisu-Juaben.

The others are Ketu, Shama Ahanta, Bosomtwi-Atwima, Dangme East, Tano, Manhyia Sub-Metropolitan and Afigya Sekyere.

All the districts have fulfilled the requirements for the HIPC Funds.

The Minister of Health, Dr Kwaku Afriyie announced this on Tuesday when he received equipment worth 1.749 billion cedis from the World Health Organisation (WHO) on behalf of the Ministry.

The equipment included 1,200 bales of untreated bed nets, two each of multi media desktop and laptop computers and accessories, three laser printers, a projector and a digital camera.

Dr Melville George, WHO's Country Representative, said the equipment was to assist the MoH in the area of capacity building and information gathering on health issues at the district level.

He said the equipment formed part of WHO's assistance to Ghana to enable her to implement her health policies, especially on malaria, by building the capacity of the malaria management team.

The Minister commended WHO for its constant assistance and said the government was determined to lessen health related burdens on the people.

He said the Health Insurance Bill would be presented to Parliament by the close of the week or early next week.

He expressed the hope that the Bill would help to address lapses in health care delivery in the country.