Winneba (C/R), July 21, GNA - The District Chief Executive for Awutu-Effutu-Senya, Mr Solomon Kwarshie Abbam-Quaye, has urged fishermen to register with the National Health Insurance Scheme.

They should also ensure that their wives and children above 18 years also registered and paid their premium of 72,000 cedis each to qualify for free medical care at the Winneba Government Hospital when it become operational.

Mr Abbam-Qoaye who was educating a group of fishermen at Winneba on the benefits of the Scheme at Winneba on Wednesday, said children under 18 years were covered under the premium of their parents. He disclosed that out of the 185,000 qualified people in the district only 40,000 had registered. Mr Abbam-Quaye explained that citizens above 18 years who failed to pay the premium would be made to pay for services at state health institutions.

He announced that officers charged with the implementation of the scheme in the district had started taking the photographs of registered persons and their under-aged children.

Mr Abbam-Quaye especially called on self-employed citizens in the area to register to avoid disappointment when the scheme became operational. 21 July 05