Mass registration for free medical care by pregnant women in Gomoa

Mozano (C/R), July 26, GNA- Six hundred pregnant women in Gomoa West District in the Central Region have registered for the Free Access to Maternal Health Care for all Pregnant Women policy since its introduction by government this month.

Mr Mark Nii Lamptey, Manager of the Gomoaman Mutual Health Insurance Scheme, announced this at the launch of the programme at Mozano near Gomoa Eshiem, for Gomoa West and Gomoa East Districts. He explained that the programme was aimed at reducing maternal mortality and poverty among women.

Mr Lamptey stated that out of the population of 200,000 people in the two districts, 127,219 had registered with the Scheme out of which 45,073 had been issued with identity (ID) Cards to enable them to access free medical care.

He said that the Scheme was helping some people to settle high hospital bills that could have been financial burden to them and cited that it settled the GH¢2,500 hospital bill of a woman who paid GH¢7.20 as premium to the Scheme.

Mr Lamptey advised pregnant women to register with the Scheme to enable them to access free maternal health care. He announced that the National Health Insurance Council was planning to phase out the district insurance cards and replace them with uniform national cards to enable card bearers to access health care at any health facility at any part of the country. Mr Lamptey advised card bearers not to wait for their cards to expire before making attempts to renew them as delays in the process could prevent them from getting prompt access to health care. Nana Mireku Annto, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Scheme, said the Maternal Health Care for all Pregnant Women had come to liberate mothers who were detained at health facilities after delivery for non-payment of bills.

He commended the staff for working hard to make the Scheme one of the best in the Central Region. Madam Joyce Aidoo, Gomoa West District Chief Executive, called on Ghanaians to rally behind the NPP Government to enable it to continue with the implementation of its good policies. She advised pregnant women to visit health centres instead of practicing self and unsafe medication such as douching of locally prepared herbs and concoctions.