Nkoranza (B/A), May 10, GNA - The Nkoranza District Health Insurance Scheme realized a net surplus of 1, 594, 380,643 cedis at the end of December last year in spite of financial challenges that confronted the scheme.

Mr. Stephen Opoku-Brobbey, Manager of the Scheme, said this when he addressed board members and delegates of the scheme at its Annual General Meeting on Thursday.

Mr. Opoku-Brobbey said during the operations of the scheme last year, they mobilized an income of 9,421,732,903 cedis which accrued from clients' contributions, the government's subvention, interests on investments and some personal and local cash donations. The scheme expenditure went to clients who received attention at the out and in-patient departments, referrals to other hospitals, laboratory refund, drug refund and administrative and general expenses. Mr. Opoku-Brobbey said about 115,028 people received attention from the Ghana Health Service(GHS) facilities and the Nkoranza St. Theresa's Hospital as out-patients and their medical bill was 3,925,904,406 cedis while in-patients at the St. Theresa's Hospital at the same time were 2,000 and the Scheme also spent 1,605, 566, 914 cedis on them. Mr. Opoku-Brobbey expressed concern about low patronage of the scheme and said out of the estimated population of 149,556 only about 68,086 have registered as clients of the scheme. The Scheme Manager appealed to opinion leaders and all stakeholders such as traditional rulers, assembly members, religious leaders, teachers and the unit committees to help sensitise and educate the people to join the scheme.

Mr. James Kwabena Appiah-Awuah, District Chief Executive, stressed the need for all the people of Nkoranza to join the scheme. He paid tribute to Dr. Inneke Bossman, a Dutch Medical Doctor at the Saint Theresa's Hospital, Nkoranza, for her foresight and efforts in spearheading the introduction of the Nkoranza Community Health Insurance Scheme which has now given birth to the National Scheme as well as attracting the patronage from others even from outside the country. The MP for Nkoranza South Constituency and the Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Mr. Kwame Amporfo-Twumasi, praised the management of the scheme, the Board of Directors and the field workers as well as agents for their hard work and untiring efforts in ensuring the sustenance of the scheme in Nkoranza.

He urged well-to-do persons and philanthropists in the communities to assist in the registering of the marginalized people such as the needy, the poor and the sick.

The MP made a personal donation of one million cedis in support of the activities of the scheme and advised authorities of the scheme to work hard to make the project last in Nkoranza. Nana Okofo Agyapong III, Adontehene of Nkoranza Traditional Area, who presided at the function, expressed delight at the efforts of management of the scheme in recording a profit during these hard times and wished them more success ahead.