Nabdam MP commissions district NHIS office
The Member of Parliament for the Nabdam Constituency and Chairman of Parliament’s Health Committee, Dr Mark Kurt Nawaane, has commissioned a National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) District Office at Nangodi in the Nabdam District to boost access to health care.
The commissioning of the office marks a major milestone for residents who, until now, had to travel to Bolgatanga, Tongo, and other districts to register for their health insurance, often at a cost higher than the NHIS premium itself.
The new office, a renovated facility comprising four offices furnished with computers and furniture at a cost of GH¢92,230, is expected to significantly improve enrolment and utilisation of health services, particularly among the poor and vulnerable.
At the ceremony, Dr Nawaane said healthcare financing remained the single most important factor preventing people from seeking medical care, stressing that distance and cost have forced many residents to delay or completely avoid hospital treatment.
“If you see a pregnant woman choosing to give birth at home, the issue is money. If you provide transport and hospital fees, she will go to the hospital. That is why today’s event is important and we are solving the problem of healthcare financing,” he said.
He announced the release of GH¢10,000 as seed money to support free registration of the first 500 residents, urging the public to take advantage of the opportunity.
Dr Nawaane reiterated his commitment to securing a district hospital for Nabdam under the Agenda 111 project, while appealing to stakeholders to help create an enabling environment that would attract and retain medical professionals in the district.
The Nabdam NHIS District Manager, Jeremiah Awine Abugbire, announced that the office had been fully connected to the national NHIS system, making Nabdam the first district in Ghana to go live in 2026.
He outlined a two-point vision to achieve universal health coverage within two years and to position the Nabdam scheme as a model district nationwide. However, he appealed for additional staff to prevent operational bottlenecks.
The Upper East Regional Director of the NHIS, Dr Salifu Kombat, described the commissioning of the office as a significant boost to the scheme in the region, bringing the number of NHIS district offices to ten.
Maternal deaths
The Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Briamah Baba Abukari, described the office as a major step towards improving health-seeking behaviour, revealing that the region recorded 60 maternal deaths in 2025, largely due to delays in accessing care.
The new NHIS office
The District Chief Executive for Nabdam, Mr Francis Yenwona Tobig, assured residents of the Assembly’s commitment to health development, announcing ongoing and planned CHPS compounds and maternity blocks across the district.
The Chief of Kotintabig, Naab Bohagu Samuel Namoog, speaking on behalf of the traditional authorities, pledged their full support to mobilise residents for NHIS enrolment.
