Mr Duut Bedima, the Tano South District Director of Health Services, has announced that the District?s Health Insurance Scheme which became operational in September, 2005, exceeded the national target of 15% registration when it registered almost 18% of its catchment population as at December, 2005.

Currently, all registered members with ID cards are receiving health benefits under the scheme in the district. The out patient attendance at health facilities almost doubled in the latter part of 2005 due to the implementation of the district health scheme.

The health director made the announcement during the district?s 2005 Annual Health Performance Review meeting at Bechem.

Mr Bedima however noted that registration in the informal sector is low. He hoped that the health scheme would eventually remove the financial barrier that has over the years prevented many people from accessing health care.

He added that the district health directorate would collaborate with the scheme to step up educational campaigns to convince more people to register.

Mr Bedima said the health insurance scheme is the best way to access quality health care world wide and urged the public to patronize it.

He mentioned poor infrastructure, lack of accommodation and transport, poor sanitation and staff attrition some of the challenges facing the health directorate.

Mr Bedima said ? there is the urgent need to construct a health center at Brosankro, while the health centers at Derma and Techimantia need urgent renovation?.

He added that there is the need to complete ongoing projects at the Bechem Hospital and implement capital investment plan in the district.

The health director expressed concern about the lack of accommodation for health staff including himself!

?The sanitation situations at Derma, Techimantia and Bechem are poor. There is no water supply to the district health directorate as well as the assembly buildings?, he noted.

He urged the district assembly to continue to sponsor students to training institutions to address the decreasing health staff in the district.