Osabarima Edusei Peasah, Chief of Akyem-Tafo in the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional area, has advised the public to eschew needless cynicism and politicization of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and appreciate its useful benefits.

He has thus demanded quality customer service devoid of discrimination on partisan lines from NHIS staff to dismiss perceptions that the staff belong to a particular political party.

Osabarima Peasah was speaking at the launching of an event to enroll 14,000 underprivileged persons onto the NHIS free of charge at Addo-Nkwanta in the East Akyem -District.

It was under the auspices of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Africa Health Markets Equity (AHME) project.

The Chief accessibility to healthcare is very critical to the survival and development of the rural communities and commended the Gender Ministry, AHME, its collaborator, for such a noble initiative to provide access to healthcare for the underprivileged.

Mr Mawutor Ablorh, from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection said, the project is one of the Ministry’s initiative to give social protection to the needy especially women in the deprived communities.

He indicated that the project was in partnership with AHME, a consortium of health institutions including Marie Stopes and Pharmaccess and was being implanted in 10 communities in five regions in the country.

Mr Godfred Boateng Sefa, the East Akyem District Manager of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) said, the target for registering new members onto the scheme was exceeded by18 percent in 2015, denying claims that the scheme had collapsed.

Mr Sefa said, the 14,000 beneficiaries would be selected from 34 deprived communities including Kwasi Komfo, Odumasi, Bomponso Numbrt 1 and 2, Obodanse, Nobi, Adadientem, Ettokrom, Apapam, Afiasa, Ahwenease, Maasem, Boso Odumase, Abesim Yeboah and Addo-Nkwanta.

Payase, Ankaase, Nkronso, Adjapomaa, Adjomako, Perchi, Fisher, Kwasi Komfo, Potroase, Owura Twum, Apose, Sokode Juaso, Abrempongsu, Adotoa, Ntaabea, Akooko, Okanta/Kwasikrakye and Asafo, are the rest.