Private schools asked to join health insurance crusade

Kasoa (C/R), July 25, GNA - Private school operators have been told to join the crusade on National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) by educating their children on the importance of the scheme in their schools.

They could also organize special forums to sensitise members of their Parent/Teacher Associations (PTAs) on the scheme to facilitate effective implementation of the programme.

The District Chief Executive for Awutu-Effutu-Senya District, Mr Solomon Kwarshie Abbam-Quaye made the call at the first open-day celebration of the Praise Academy, a private educational institution at Kasoa in the Central Region at the weekend.

Mr Abbam-Quaye said the success of the NHIS, which principally sought to eradicate the cash and carry system and to relieve the poor of their health problems, depended largely on the entire citizenry and not the Government alone.

It was incumbent, therefore, on all well-organized groups like, the Association of Private Schools; Parent/Teacher Associations of various basic schools, benevolent societies and co-operative groups in the country to play active roles in the sensitisation campaign of the scheme to make it succeed.

Mr Abbam-Quaye also appealed to churches and other religious organisations operating in Awutu-Effutu-Senya District to intensify awareness campaigns on the scheme during worship to hammer home the need for all qualified members of the congregation to register with the scheme.

The DCE also charged children in Junior and Secondary Schools to educate their parents, particularly those parents, who could not read and write on the numerous benefits they stood to gain when they registered and paid their premiums to become members of the scheme. He recalled the irreparable harm cash and carry system had inflicted on many poor homes and families in the past and enjoined the inhabitants in the area to accept the scheme with great joy and enthusiasm to guarantee their good health.