Awutu-Okwampa (C/R), Dec. 26, GNA - A group of vulnerable persons in the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District of the Central Region have made a passionate appeal to Members of Parliament (MPs) to consider using part of their shares of the common fund to pay the registration fees and premiums of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) of a number of economically distressed people in their constituencies. They said this would enable such people also enjoy the immense benefits of the scheme.

The group made the call during an interaction with Mr Joseph Yaw Owusu-Kwarteng, Public Relations Officer of the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (AESDMHIS) at Awutu-Okwampa. Mr Owusu-Kwarteng had visited a number of communities in the District to educate the inhabitants on the NHIS as part of activities to round off the year.

He said most of the people who endorsed the use of portions of the shares of the MP's common for the payment of NHIS registration fees and premiums were farmers whose annual income was nothing to write home about.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency on the importance of the scheme, Mr Owusu-Kwarteng said although an appreciable number of people in the District had been registered, there was still more to be done to rope in the rest, especially the most vulnerable. He said during his discussions with Madam Veronica Effenam, Midwife in-charge of the Okuampa Health Post, it came to light that majority of the prospective clients of the scheme who registered over a year ago and made part payments of their premiums had not been able to complete full payment of their premiums.

According to the PRO, the situation had virtually compelled Madam Effenam to give back their deposits to them because she could not hold on to their deposits ranging from one Ghana cedi or 10,000 cedis to GH=A23.00 or 30,000 cedis any longer.

He said Madam Effenam had advised the villagers to adopt the 'Susu' savings method to assist themselves to pay their subscriptions and premiums in full. 26 Dec. 07