Government supports health insurance scheme

Amakye-Bare (Ashanti Region) 003 - The government has released ?350m to support the Atwima District Health Insurance Scheme. The District Assembly has also voted ?70m for the scheme. Charles Yeboah, Atwima District Chief Executive (DCE), said this at the launch of the District Malaria Awareness Day at Amakye-Bare in Ashanti.

The theme for the Day was: "Insecticide treated nets and effective malaria treatment for pregnant women and children under five year by 2005".

Yeboah said the assembly would soon open a clinic at Kotokuom in addition to the existing six clinics in the district. He said the assembly had earmarked ?8m to assist the District Health Management Team (DHMT) to buy a dermatome machine to treat buruli ulcer patients who attend the Nkawie Government Hospital.

Dr P.C. Awuah, Medical Superintendent in-charge of the Nkawie Hospital, said malaria cases formed about 40 percent of diseases reported at the hospital.