Takoradi, May 25, GNA - Doctor Sylvester Anemana, Western Regional Director of Health Services has expressed concern about the slow take off of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the Takoradi Sub-Metropolitan area.

He said the scheme was the only means the people could use to get access to quality health car and urged them to embrace it whole-heartedly by registering and paying their premium. Dr. Anemana was speaking at the inauguration of an 11-member Board of Trustees of the Sub-Metro Mutual Health Insurance Scheme at Takoradi, on Tuesday.

He said the people of Sefwi Bodi in the Western Region had raised 400 million cedis so far towards their private health insurance while some communities in the Brong Ahafo region and other parts of the country were already benefiting from the scheme.

Dr. Anemana noted that under the cash and carry system, "There was no solidarity for the dying, accident victims, the poor and the aged," adding that, "With the NHIS, a mutual and beneficial fund would be created to cater for all".

He charged the Trustees to work hard to ensure that more people registered and paid the premium to benefit from the scheme. Madam Sophia Horner-Sam, Deputy Western Regional Minister, urged them to ensure an intensive and extensive public education programme for the people to patronise the scheme to get access to its benefits. Mr Kinsley Mensah, the Takoradi Sub-metro Manager of the Scheme said 28 million cedis premium had been collected as at May 23, 2005, adding that, so far 9,828 people had been registered with 4,448 being dependents.

He said lack of cameras to take pictures of members was the major problem confronting the scheme and stated that some officers used their own resources for public education.

Mr. Philip K. Nkrumah, Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Chief Executive said that even though the initial set-up capital of 700 million cedis released by the government was exhausted, the Metropolitan Assembly had made budgetary allocation to support the three Sub-Metros. He said the Assembly would assist the Sekondi Sub-Metro to get an office.