By Benjamin Akoto
Banda-Ahenkro (Bono), Oct. 2, GNA – Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, has inaugurated an office of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) at Banda-Ahenkro, the Banda District capital in the Bono Region.
Hitherto, residents travelled to either Nsawkaw in the Tain District or Wenchi Municipality to register with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and renew their membership.
Speaking at the inauguration at Banda-Ahenkro, Mr Ibrahim, also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Banda, said the construction of the facility was funded through his share of the MPs’ Common Fund.
He expressed concern about the difficulties residents had faced over the years in accessing NHIS services.
“Some of the residents even spend more than three days journeying to Nsawkaw or Wenchi to access NHIS services for healthcare,” Mr Ibrahim said.
He said the facility would also enhance the implementation of the Free Primary Healthcare (FPHC) programme, noting that health insurance and primary healthcare services were closely linked, hence the need to improve healthcare infrastructure in the district.
Mr Ibrahim said the establishment of the NHIA office would help address some of the challenges residents encountered in accessing healthcare services.
He pledged to work towards improving infrastructure at the Banda Health Centre, including the provision of a theatre and other essential facilities.
Dr Victor Asare Bampoe, Chief Executive Officer of the NHIA, urged residents to support the operations of the office to enable it to meet their growing healthcare needs.
He also urged personnel of the Authority to work diligently towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by ensuring that all eligible residents in the district were enrolled onto the NHIS.
Mr Peter Dongi, Banda District Chief Executive, said the establishment of the office was a major relief to residents, particularly those in the island communities.
He said residents of those communities faced persistent difficulties in accessing NHIS services and often spent between three and four hours travelling to Bongase, Nsawkaw or Wenchi for such services.
Nana Pe Aboatia II, Acting President of the Banda Traditional Council, described the establishment of the office as an important milestone in the district’s efforts to improve quality healthcare delivery.
He expressed gratitude to the Government and stakeholders for establishing the office in the district.
GNA
Edited by Dennis Peprah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Benjamin Akoto
[email protected]