DMHIS official expresses concern over lack of patronage of the scheme

Abakrampa (C/R), July 23, GNA- Mr Ebow Taylor, secretary to the board of directors of the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese (AAK) District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (DMHIS) on Friday announced that out of a population of about 8,000 inhabitants at Abakrampa in the Central Region, only 20 people of the 1,140 who have registered with the scheme have so far paid their premiums fully.

He expressed concern that with only few days for the scheme to take off nationwide, only 20 million cedis has so far been realized from the 7,000 registered members out of a total population of 90,092 in the AAK district.

Mr. Taylor cautioned the people against the politicisation of the scheme and advised them to register and pay their premiums fully to enable them enjoy a quality and affordable health care delivery. Mr Taylor was speaking at Abakrampa on the importance of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), during a one-day working visit to the place by Mr Job Markin, the AAK District Chief Executive (DCE).

The DCE's visit to the town, which incidentally is his hometown, marked the beginning of a series of familiarization tours he intended to embark throughout the district to interact with the chiefs and people, to learn at first hand their problems, with the view to assisting in finding solutions to them.

The DCE, who was accompanied on the tour by most of the 18 heads of decentralized department were honoured with a durbar of the chiefs and people of the area.

Mr. Markin, for his part, appealed to the people not to politicise development issues, and urged them to rekindle their communal spirit, in order to, promote the development of the place.

Mr. Markin assured the people that all efforts would be made to attract investors to the place to establish a juice or fruit factory, so as to assist the numerous orange farmers in the area get a ready market for their produce, stressing that, "this feat would reduce the level of poverty in the place."

The DCE stated that he would liaise with the appropriate authorities to get the road from Abakrampa Junction to Asuansi tarred, in order to, facilitate the transportation of foodstuffs and Cocoa from the place to the marketing centres, to further reduce poverty among farmers.

Mr. Markin also appealed to the people to honour their tax obligations, and ensure that people, who travel to the place to buy oranges pay their taxes, to assist the district assembly generate more revenue to develop the area.

Nana Out X, Omanhene of Abura traditional area, expressed gratitude to the government for including the AAK among the forty pilot districts to benefit from the capitalization project, under which fees of pupils in basic schools would be paid by the state.

He advised the DCE not to be self-centred in his approach to issues but always allow himself to be guided by government policy directives and a fair sense of judgement, stressing that, " you should always remember that your success will no doubt bring honour to Aburaman."

The DCE, assisted by the various heads of department answered questions on education, health and sanitation, among others, posed on them during an open forum.