Bawiesibelle, (UW), April 7, GNA - People in the East Sissala District of the Upper West Region, have been called upon to embrace the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) as "the surest way to enhance the provision of equitable healthcare delivery and reducing poverty". Mr Moses Dani Baah, Deputy Minister of Private Sector Development and Presidential Special Initiatives (PSI) who made the call said the NHIS had come to replace the "Cash and Carry" system, which had caused the death of many patients who could not pay for drug prescriptions. Mr Baah was speaking at a general meeting of the Bawiesibelle Youth and Development Association (BAYDA) at Bawiesibelle.

He said Government initiated the NHIS to improve the health status of the people through the provision of health facilities and logistics. The Minister who also used the occasion to thank his constituents for electing him as Member of Parliament, asked them not to allow politics to divide them.

They must however remain united and pool their resources for the rapid development of the area.

Mr Baah called on them to send their children to school and support them to complete at least their basic education, saying, "This is the only way that we can ensure the rapid development of the district". The President of BAYDA, Mr Bahilu Ayarna said the Association had drawn up a six-year Educational Development Plan to encourage parents to send their children to school.

He said BAYDA had also established a scholarship scheme to support needy but brilliant children while efforts were being made to provide the local primary and junior secondary school in the community with sporting and reading materials.

Mr Ayarna said executives of BAYDA were collaborating with the chiefs and opinion leaders to discourage all dehumanising cultural practices.

He said the Association was also pursuing an agenda to persuade parents to give Sissala names to their children instead of Islamic names and to revive the telling of local stories and folk songs to preserve their culture.

The BAYDA President called on Fulani herdsmen who are staying in the community to cooperate with the people to ensure peace and unity. The herdsmen have hit the headlines for cattle rustling, destruction of farms, rape, murder and engaging local communities in numerous conflicts.

Mr Salifu Waah, District Chief Executive, called on people in the area to pay their taxes regularly to enable the District Assembly to raise enough money to undertake development projects. The Chief of Bawiesebelle, Kuoru Bayadomoh Fentuo assured BAYDA of his support and cooperation to enable the Association to achieve its development goals.

He commended the government for providing his community with a multi-million cedi health centre, a school block and a day nursery.