Bawku East Health Insurance Scheme Launched

Bawku (U/E), April 30, GNA - Mr Mahami Salifu, Upper East Regional Minister on Thursday launched the Bawku East Mutual Insurance Scheme with a call on the communities to embrace it to enable it succeed. He said the scheme would replace the "Cash and Carry" system, which has denied most people of getting access to quality healthcare and brought in its wake misery to most families and loss of lives.

"To reverse the trend, government embarked on a health insurance policy that had a humane system to ensure equitable access to quality health service for the people," he added.

He said government could not solely bear the cost of providing health care, but again it would not shirk its responsibility and would continue to meet 80 percent commitment.

In his welcome address, the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Abdul-Rahman Gumah, stressed the need to support government's efforts in the successful implementation of the scheme, adding that it is the best alternative to the cash and carry system.

He noted that a vast majority of the people were poor and could not seek better healthcare, and that the insurance scheme would, therefore, be the only hope for people belonging to the vulnerable sector of the population.

Mr Gumah stated that the good intentions of government in health delivery could be seen in the upgrading of a number of health institutions and the provision of transport for the District Health Management Teams as well as accommodation for health personnel throughout the country.

A representative of Partners for Health Reform Plus, Mr. Joseph Sineka, urged the people not to "hide behind the face of poverty" and refuse to register, adding that it was for the poor that the scheme became necessary.

He appealed to the people to bury their differences, avoid conflicts and unite to sustain the scheme.