Nkoranza (B/A) Jan. 15, GNA - The Nkoranza District Health Insurance Scheme spent 2,182,673,474 cedis on 36,006 clients who attended health facilities between August and December, last year.

Mr. Stephen Opoku Brobbey, district manager of the scheme who announced this at a forum at Nkoranza said the scheme registered 68,086 persons in the district, out of the estimated population of 147,946. The scheme generated 346,095,000 cedis from the registration fees. Giving the breakdown of registered members, Mr. Brobbey said 25,189 registered members aged between 18 and 69 were recorded, while those aged 70 years and above were 4,109.

One thousand nine hundred and eighty-six contributors of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust registered whilst children below 18 years were 36,534, Pensioners 107 and the indigent 346.

Mr. Brobbey commended Dr. Inneke Bossman, a medical doctor at the St. Theresa's Catholic hospital at Nkoranza and the initiator of the Nkoranza health insurance scheme, Mr. Philip Akanzinge, Brong-Ahafo Regional Health Insurance Coordinator and Madam Helen Dzikunu of DANIDA health support office in Accra for their unflinching support both financial and technical for the establishment of the scheme, which led to its implementation nation-wide.

Mr. Richard Hinneh, district director of health services disclosed that the directorate had organized training workshops for health staff to enable them to deliver quality health service to clients of the scheme.

He said the directorate had appointed about 14 qualified accounting personnel to serve in the health facilities to ensure the proper management of the finances of the scheme. The district director noted that the introduction of the scheme had seen a tremendous increase in patient attendance to hospitals and clinics in the district.

The average of outpatient daily attendance of 69 at St. Theresa's hospital in Nkoranza has increased to 169, while the 28 average outpatient attendance at the Nkoranza health centre had shot up to 53.

Mr. Francis Saviour Andoh-Adjei, national coordinator of the National Health Insurance Council disclosed that the Council had placed order for the purchase of 140 pick-up vehicles for supply to the various schemes for a greater reach to all communities.

He added that the Council would also equip the offices of the scheme country-wide with all the necessary logistics such as computers, printers and accessories for accurate record taking of operations. The national co-ordinator said the Council had envisaged registering about 10 million persons this year, saying last year more than over 3,500,000 persons were registered.

Mr. James Kwabena Appiah-Awuah, Nkoranza district chief executive urged the youth not to play politics with the scheme as it had come to stay. He said the District Assembly had initiated a programme to sponsor the training of four nurses from the district each year, aimed at bonding them to serve in the various health institutions in the district on completion of training.

Mr. Appiah-Awuah disclosed that the Assembly spent 40 million cedis on the first four students who benefited from the sponsorship-training package last year.

In a welcoming address, Mr. Evans Kwame Osei, district chairman of the scheme commended the government for introducing it. Nana Okofo Agyapong 111, Adontenhene of Nkoranza traditional area who presided suggested to the Council to construct a monument at Nkoranza to show its appreciation to the people for spearheading the implementation of the Scheme. Jan. 15 06