Gender Ministry registers elderly onto NHIS

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, has registered the elderly at Akropong in the Eastern Region numbering 500, onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The registration which was done for free, formed part of effort by the ministry to give the elderly in the country access to free health care.

As part of the programme, the Ministry also sensitized the elderly on some of the ailments affecting them, and how they could be prevented

Nana Oye Lithur, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection said the new ministry was introduced to give much focus and attention to issues regarding the elderly.

She said government recognized and duly appreciated support the elderly gave to the country during the youthful days, hence the need to create a ministry to cater for their needs.

She gave the assurance that the Urban Elderly Card which was recently introduced to give some comfort to the elderly, would be introduced in the area.

She said with the new card, holders enjoyed 50 percent discount anytime they boarded public transport, and were also not supposed to join queues any time they visited hospital facilities.

She said the ministry was still negotiating with some supermarkets to also reduce the prices of their goods and services anytime the holders of the new Card visited to do shopping.

"Our elderly men and women have served this nation well, and government is very committed to put in the necessary measures that will cater for their well being," she said.

Nana Oye Lithur announced that government had laid before Parliament a law that would further cater for the health needs of the elderly.

She disclosed that the Ministry had also embarked on the registration of prisoners on the National Health Insurance Scheme across the country, adding that all inmates of the Koforidua prisons had been registered, and the next stop was the Nsawam prisons, with the others to follow soon.

Mr Nathaniel Otoo, Acting Chief Executive Officer of National Health Insurance Authority, advised all subscribers to report any health facility to the Authority which would demand money for providing health care to them.

Mr George Addo Opare, Municipal Chief Executive for Akuapem North, commended the Gender Ministry and the NHIA for the programme, and called for its expansion to cater for all the elderly.

Some of the elderly who spoke to the Ghana News Agency commended Nana Oye Lithur for the programme.

"Even before she became a Minister, Nana Oye Lithur had been campaigning for the right every individual and we are not surprised that she is pushing for the programmes that would enable the elderly in society to have a better health care for free," Mr Kofi Maakora, one of the beneficiaries said.