As part of SEND-GHANA’s continuous efforts in complementing government’s developmental agenda of providing quality service delivery to the poor, the organization in collaboration with authorities of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) organized a one day regional level sensitization on NHIS capitation in Wa.

The programme which took place at the conference Hall of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) on Wednesday March 11, 2015 drew over 120 participants from various stakeholders of the region such as Traditional Authorities, Heads of Decentralized Departments, Women Groups, People With Disability (PWD), the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Ghana Dressmakers & Tailors Association, Hairdressers Association and the media. 

In his welcome address, Mr. Issahaku Nuhu, the Municipal Chief Executive of Wa commended SEND-GHANA for its relentless efforts in bringing healthcare service delivery to the doorstep of the people through active citizens’ participation. 

According to him, the tremendous efforts being made by authorities of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and Civil Society Organizations in promoting quality healthcare service delivery in the region must also be commended.

Briefing participants on the purpose of the forum, a Programme Officer of SEND-GHANA, Mr. Adamu Mukaila made reference to the huge public outcry from various stakeholders within and out of the Ashanti Region where the capitation policy was first implemented. This he said was the result of authorities of the Scheme not doing enough stakeholder consultation before rolling out the policy. “It is clear  that the late involvement of stakeholders in the implementation of the capitation fuelled the controversy and misunderstanding between service providers and the scheme in the Ashanti Region”, he said. 

He acknowledged the efforts being made by the NHIS in taking the lead in the awareness creation by engaging stakeholders at the district level and was quick to add that the Regional level sensitization was aimed at reaching out to majority of the populace. To this end, he appealed to the media especially, and all and sundry to play their part to ensure that the information is disseminated to the majority of our people.

Mr. Yakubu Salifu promised to give preferential treatment to   Persons With Disability when they roll out the policy. He asked representatives of the groups (PWDs) to liaise with their members to compile a list of unregistered PWDs for the NHIS biometric registration.

Story by Mohammed Tajudeen, Field Officer, SEND-GHANA