Keta, July 29, GNA - The Keta District Health Implementation Team of the Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) has embarked on an extensive tour of communities in the area to sensitise the people and to mobilise funds towards the implementation of the scheme. The 11-member team was made-up of Mr. Emmanuel Vorkeh, Keta District Chief Executive, Dr. Emmanuel Kasu, District Director of Health Services and Mr. M.P. Dagbui, District Planning Officer. Other members were Torgbi Gatsiko IV, Mr. Trinity Yevoo, Ms. Edith Tay, Mr. Leonard Tetteh, Rev. Herbert Nukpor, Ernest Kugbe and Gariba Hashimu, Moslem representative.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Ms Edith Tay, District Focal Person on the scheme intimated that out of 187 communities targeted in the sensitisation tour, 120 had so far been covered. She emphasised that the communities so far visited had recorded encouraging turnouts showing that the messages on the scheme had gone down well with the people.

In another interview with Dr. Emmanuel Kasu, a leading member of the team, he described the tour as successful saying: "The unexpected high turnout and enthusiasm of the people is an indication of their acceptance of the scheme."

The District Medical Director also observed that the people were happy that the scheme had come at the right time to improve the health delivery in the rural communities as well as replace the "cash and carry" system, which had inhibited free access to medical care for the poor and vulnerable groups.

The team members were optimistic that the scheme would be a tremendous success when it took off fully and the early subscribers begin to receive free medical treatment by January next year.

Over 180 communities in the Keta District made up mainly of farmers, fishermen, traders, teachers and a few civil and public servants are expected to subscribe to and benefit from the scheme. .