Agona Nsaba (C/R), June 19, GNA - An Accra based contractor, Mr Sampson Abrokwa, on Thursday paid GH¢2,000 as health insurance premium for 280 orphans and underprivileged persons in the Agona East District to enable them register with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Speaking at a ceremony to make the payment to the officials of NHIS at Agona Nsaba, Mr Abrokwa said lauded the introduction of the Health Insurance Scheme, but noted that most people could not register to enjoy its full benefit due to poverty. He said orphans and indigents at Agona Nsaba town, predominately a farming community, found it difficult to pay the GH¢20 under the Scheme, hence his intervention to assist. Mr Abrokwa said the move would enable the beneficiaries to enjoy quality health care to help them contribute their quota to accelerate the growth and development of the country. He said the GH¢2,000 was to cover the first phase of his assistance and that second one would come n four months time. Mr Dennis Armah-Frempong, District Chief Executive for Agona East, said the NHIS had come to eliminate the cash and carry system and assured the people in the District that the Assembly would foot the bills of the aged and indigents who had been exempted by the law. He commended Mr Abrokwa for his patriotism and love shown towards the people and appealed to other citizens from Agona Nsaba to emulate his example. Nana Kofi Ayekum II, Adontenhene of Agona Nsaba Traditional Area, said the initiative taken by Mr Abrokwa to pay for underprivileged people in the town should be a yardstick for other well-to-do natives of the area living elsewhere to also come and assist the community. He said the payment of insurance premium for 280 people by Mr Abrokwa, would be an indelible mark in the Nsaba Traditional Area. Mr Oclu Isaac Nelson, Public Relation Officer (PRO) of the Agona Municipal Health Insurance Scheme, said the Health Insurance Council has introduced a new Identification Card (ID), which would lessen the burden of the members who go through difficulties in visiting health facility. According to him, the District office at Agona Swedru has stopped issuing the old cards for paid-up members because of the new one expected to come out within the next three months.