SSNIT donates GHC500,000 to pensioners

The management of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has presented a cheque for GHC500,000 to the National Pensioners Association (NPA) to cater for their health needs.

Monday's presentation follows a similar gesture in 2017 where SSNIT doled out GHC300,000 to treat eye and optical care coverage for glaucoma, cataract procedures and spectacle subsidies; urological and gynecological conditions.

It includes diagnosis, treatment, medication for ovarian, cervical and prostate cancer and purchase of drugs not covered by NHIS.

The Chairman of the SSNIT board, Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, who led the management team to provide the lifeline to the pensioners, said the gesture formed part of a policy of the company to sustain and give meaning to the lives of the retirees.

He said Monday's presentation was in fulfilment of another promise made last year by SSNIT.

In all SSNIT has spent GHC 800,000 over the last two years to support the medical needs of the pensioners.

Dr Addo Kufuor praised the executives of NPA for the initiative of putting the funds into asset management to attract interest and help cover more beneficiaries.

The General Secretary, NPA, Edward Ameyibor, applauded SSNIT for the gesture saying, "a donation of such huge amount to our association to support our pensioners medical scheme, is good news."

He said most pensioners spend a substantial amount of their pensions on good health adding that such presentation will go a long way to prolong the lives of members.

"Therefore, anybody who supports our medical scheme is our friend and deserves our commendation," Mr Ameyibor, onetime president of the Ghana Journalists Association said in Kumasi.

He said the Pensioners Medical Scheme, currently covers five main areas, prostate and its related ailments, including surgery, gynaecological problems of their women like breasts, cervical, ovarian cancer among other.