NHIS officials and traditional leaders during the launch of the week-long special registration
The Builsa North Municipal Office of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has launched a week-long special registration and renewal exercise in honour of the late Overlord of the Builsa Traditional Area, Nab Dr Ayieta Azantilow I, as part of activities marking his 20th anniversary.
The exercise was officially launched on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at the Overlord’s Palace in Sandema, with an on-the-spot registration and renewal exercise for residents.
The event was chaired by the Chief of Chuchuliga, Nab Francis Akanbegme Asangalisa II, and brought together traditional leaders, NHIS officials and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the launch, the Builsa North Municipal NHIS Manager, Sunday Donaldson Akpitipolah, said the exercise was part of activities initiated by the scheme to honour the late Overlord for his contributions to healthcare delivery and the promotion of health insurance in the former Builsa District.
He disclosed that the NHIS Chief Executive Officer, Dr Victor Bampoe, had not only accepted an invitation to participate in the anniversary celebration but had also made a donation in support of the programme.
Akpitipolah said the registration exercise would be extended to basic and secondary schools, as well as communities across the municipality, with the exercise expected to climax on November 14, 2026.
He recalled that the late traditional ruler actively encouraged residents to enrol in the National Health Insurance Scheme when it was introduced in the Builsa District in 2005.
He therefore urged residents with expired NHIS cards and those who had not yet registered to take advantage of the exercise to renew their membership or obtain new cards to facilitate access to healthcare.
Meanwhile, the Regional Operations Manager of the NHIS, Collins Gado Anafure, has encouraged residents to enrol in the scheme despite the introduction of the Free Primary Healthcare programme.
He explained that all districts in the Upper East Region had been covered under the Free Primary Healthcare initiative, with funds advanced to healthcare service providers to facilitate its implementation.
According to him, the programme allows residents to access primary healthcare services regardless of their NHIS or Ghana Card membership status.
However, Anafure cautioned that the Free Primary Healthcare programme had limitations, explaining that it covered services provided at Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds, health centres and polyclinics.
He noted that patients whose conditions required referrals beyond these facilities would need valid NHIS membership to access further healthcare services under the scheme.
He consequently urged residents to take advantage of the special registration exercise to enrol or renew their membership to avoid difficulties accessing healthcare when referred to higher-level facilities.
The 20th anniversary celebration of the late Nab Dr Ayieta Azantilow I is scheduled to take place on November 14, 2026, in Sandema.
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