Nuba health insurance drive reaches 170 people in first round and more in a second

Pinned summary · as of 05:40

People living in Nuba, a community in the Western Region's Jomoro Municipality, have been able to sign up for or renew National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) cover at no charge. Assembly Member Emmanuel Kwasie Amihere, who goes by Ghanaman, ran the drive after the first round drew enough interest to justify a longer second one.

What we know

• Emmanuel Kwasie Amihere, who represents the Nuba Electoral Area on the assembly and is popularly called Ghanaman, arranged the free NHIS sign-up and renewal sessions. Dorcas Affo-Toffey, who sits in Parliament for the Jomoro constituency, backed the effort.
• The aim was to widen access to healthcare in the Nuba community. A one-day first round became a two-day second round so that more people could enrol, renew, or swap out cards that were lost or damaged.
• In round one, 75 people enrolled for the first time, 80 renewed and 15 got replacement cards, making 170 beneficiaries in all.
• Round two saw 133 residents enrol for the first time, 70 renew and 50 receive replacement cards.
• Amihere thanked Ms Affo-Toffey, who doubles as a Deputy Minister of Transport, and Municipal Chief Executive Benedict Boadi for their ongoing help to Nuba. He said that help made the longer exercise possible and let more residents take part.
• Amihere said the sessions eased matters for residents who might otherwise have found it hard to reach enrolment and renewal services. He hoped similar support would carry on and encouraged beneficiaries to use their cover and seek care early when they need it.
• He also repeated a pledge to work with stakeholders on more development projects for the Nuba Electoral Area.

Why it matters for Ghana

An active NHIS card is what lets a household in a small community such as Nuba use insured care without paying in full at the clinic. Bringing enrolment, renewal and card replacement to the community saves residents the effort of arranging these separately. Amihere's call to seek treatment promptly ties the drive to actual use of health services.