Nkwanta (V/R), Aug. 24, GNA - Mr Joseph Denteh, Nkwanta District Chief Executive (DCE) on Monday admonished beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to avoid undermining it through engaging in negative attitudes to collapse the humane and affordable healthcare delivery system.

He said an unhealthy phenomenon was emerging in the district, where some people under the Scheme visited health facilities two to three times in a week, thereby raising the claims budget to 106 million cedis for April alone.

The DCE, who disclosed this at an Assembly meeting at Nkwanta, warned that attempts by individuals and groups to collapse the Scheme would be met with equal resistance, and urged such collaborators to turn new leaves or face the wrath of their own action.

Mr Denteh said the NHIS was a government strategy towards making healthcare service delivery accessible to all, irrespective of one's social or economic status, unlike the previous cash-and-carry system. He said the total claims for 3,015 clients amounting to 321.4 million cedis, was paid to healthcare providers in the district between February to May, this year.

The DCE said total premium collected to date amounted to 403.6 million cedis with government providing 284 million cedis as subsidy for the exempt group under the Scheme.

Mr Denteh said 50,490 people had registered to access the NHIS as at June, while SSNIT contributors, pensioners, and the aged numbered 10,453.

On Health Aides support, the DCE said the Assembly was currently assisting 31 trainees financially, with four out of the number being supported by Mr Joseph Nayan, Member of Parliament for Nkwanta North. On HIV/AIDS, Mr Denteh said the administration had submitted proposals under the Multi-Sectoral HIV/AIDS Programme (MSHAP) to source for funding from the Ghana AIDS Commission for four non-governmental organizations and 10 community-based organizations to help curb and fight the disease.

He said the fight to eradicate guinea worm in the district was making tremendous strides and commended stakeholders, including the American Peace Corps volunteers.

Regarding water and sanitation, the DCE said 266 boreholes fitted with hand pumps had been sunk in 119 communities and serving a population of 84,419 people, and that, 29 others were being drilled.