Gwollu (UWR), Nov. 2, GNA- The Sissala West District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS), now has a membership strength of 25,000 compared to the 5,000 registered members as at last year. The improvement in the scheme was due partly to a sustained education and membership campaign and the realization of the benefits of the scheme by the public.

Mr Ismail Madah, Sissala West District Chief Executive (DCE), disclosed this when he addressed the second ordinary session of the assembly held at Gwollu on Thursday.

The DCE said work was progressing steadily on the construction of four community based health planning service centres at Fatchu, Jawia, Du-West and Pulima, under the European Union micro projects. Mr Madah said the assembly had also drilled eight bore-holes for eight communities in the district under the community based rural development project with work on twelve other bore-holes due to start before the year ends. On electricity, he said work on the extension of power under the self-help electricity programme to Jeffisi, Zini, Bullu and Kuntulo was progressing well, adding that, 18,000 pieces of energy saving bulbs had been distributed to households in the district. The DCE said the assembly this year was able to collect a little over GH=A221,000 out of its projected target of GH=A250,000 as at September, and that the assembly also received 2.9 billion cedis as its share of the District Assembly Common Fund. He noted that poor revenue generation by the assembly had greatly affected the capacity of the assembly to undertake programmes as outlined it the assembly's budget for the year. Mr George Hikah Benson, Upper West Regional Minister, who addressed the Assembly, urged them to plan for disasters and its management to enable them to respond quickly to such occurrences before help comes from the government and others.