Saltpond, Oct. 24, GNA- The Mfantseman District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme has paid 175,117 Ghana cedis being claims to various health facilities in the Central Region. This is against 596,768 Ghana cedis premium received from clients since inception of the scheme two years ago. Mr. Godfrey Gyebi Arthur, Manager of the Scheme, who announced these at its board meeting at Saltpond, said 67,342 people out of the District population of 152,334 had registered with the scheme. He said identification cards had been issued to 27,742 clients and 18,643 of them had attended health facilities.

Mr. Frank Neequaye, Chairman of the board has expressed disappointment at the low patronage of the Scheme and appealed to traditional rulers and religious organisations to educate their members on the need to register for the scheme. He said "it beats my imagination why some people are still sitting on the fence when the benefits of the Scheme has started manifesting." Nana Ataapim Kweenu VII, chief of Woraba near Cape Coast, and Mankrado of the Nkusukum Traditional Area, commended health service providers in the district for contributing to the development of health in the area. Nana Kweenu who is also vice Chairman of the Board and the Presiding Member of the Mfantseman Assembly, appealed clients to renew insurance cards at the beginning of every year.