Sandema(UE), May 27, GNA - The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Builsa District in Upper East Region has achieved the national target of registering 60 per cent of the population in the area. Mr Thomas Kofi Alonsi, Builsa District Chief Executive announced this at the People's Assembly held at Sandema last weekend. He said since the scheme was established on April 30, 2004, it had registered 49,272 clients which represented 61.6 per cent of the population. Mr Alonsi said between 2005 and 2007, total premium mobilized by the scheme was 67,249 Ghana cedis and received 460,898 Ghana cedis from Central Government to meet payment of claims submitted by health institutions.

He said the first registration of 193 people in 2005 increased to 18,335 people in 2007 and more people were now benefiting from the scheme. Mr Alonsi said the scheme had removed any financial barrier to health care delivery and with the assistance of the assembly had registered orphans in the two orphanages and the physically challenged in the area. He said the assembly provided logistics including stationery, motorbikes, computers and printers to facilitate activities of the scheme.

Mr Alonsi commended management of DANIDA for providing financial assistance to the scheme and was optimistic that with their continued assistance about 75 per cent of the population would be covered by the end of the year. Participants at the forum called on Government, stakeholders especially citizens from the Northern Regions to brainstorm and come out with pragmatic measures to establish industries for shea nut processing to create employment and reduce poverty in the area. 27 May 08