Nine thousand (9,000) people from deprived communities across the Fanteakwa District are to enjoy free health insurance under a joint project by the Gender Children and Social Protection Ministry, the Africa Health Markets Equity (AHME) and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).

The project, which is being implemented in 10 selected districts in five regions, targets the vulnerable and the underprivileged.

Alhaji Abudu Seidu, the Eastern Regional Manager of the NHIA, said the goal was to enable them to access quality health care.

He said a total of about 23,000 people in the beneficiary districts would be covered.

Speaking at the launch of a special exercise at Ahomahomasu to identify those who are really in need and qualify for the free enrolment onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), he asked that nobody “read politics into it”.

The exercise involves moving from-house-to-house to determine people who by their situation could not afford insurance premium payment.

He said the 2015 Ghana Living Standards Survey was used as basis for selection of the beneficiary districts.

Mr. Daniel Alorbgey, the District Manager of the NHIS, said about 40 deprived communities in the area would benefit.

He debunked claims that the insurance scheme was collapsing and said membership had kept growing.

There are in excess of 40,000 active members in the area.