NHIS not dead — Segbefia

The Minister of Health, Mr Alex Segbefia, has given an assurance that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is doing well and is not dead as some people are claiming.

He said even though the scheme faced some challenges, it was worth noting that the difficulties had enabled the scheme managers to find solutions to the shortcomings in the system.

Mr Segbefia made the statements at Battor in the North Tongu District in the Volta Region at the celebration of the Hogbeza Festival of the chiefs and people of the area.

The festival was on the theme: ”Hogbeza for Quality Education, Peace and Development of Battor”.

Mr Segbefia said it was not possible for a scheme that was presumed to be dead to be capable of providing over 11 million Ghanaians with access to healthcare services. 

 “There are more people accessing health care through the NHIS now, compared to the past when there were four million people,” he said.

 He added that the Ministry of Health had put in place measures to correct anomalies in the system and would ensure that from now on, the scheme would work smoothly and accomplish its purpose.  

Battor Commends NDC

The Paramount Chief of the Battor Traditional Area, Togbega Patamia Dzekley VII, commended President John Mahama for providing the district with a lot of development facilities.

Among the facilities, he said, were  two six-unit classroom blocks for the Battor-Dagame Senior High School, a two-storey dormitory block for both the Aveyime-Battor and Battor-Dugame Senior High Schools, ongoing construction works on a community day school at Volo and the construction of the Juapong-Battor-Vome-Adidome road.

Quest for further action

Togbega Dzekley, however, requested the President to consider reconstructing damaged roads in the district and also strengthening the Battor Catholic Hospital by expanding the infrastructure in order for it to cater for the high demand for healthcare services. 

 He also called on the government to provide financial support for the Prairie Rice Company Limited in order for it to expand its facilities and employ more youth in the area.

 Togbe Dzekley VII urged the youth to remain disciplined before, during and after the 2016 general election and ensure that they were not used by politicians to foment trouble.

  Support 

The Deputy Minister of Education, Mr Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, who is also the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, thanked the people of the area for supporting him in his development drive for the district and urged them to continue to assist him in his work.

According to him, the NDC government has built the foundation for improved development in the country and is ready now to create opportunities for Ghanaians to enjoy the benefits of their labour. 

“Besides addressing challenges the nation is facing, the NDC has also created an enabling environment for businesses to thrive,” he said.