Gender Ministry registers the aged under NHIS

Nana Oye Lithur, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, says the ministry is committed to empower the vulnerable and excluded persons with disability in the society towards sustainable national development.

She said the ministry is also engaging with development partners and Ghana Health Service to support the training of geriatric professionals to cater for the medical needs of the elderly.

Nana Oye Lithur made this known while addressing the aged at Akoto-Lante and Chorkor in Accra at the weekend, who were registered free of charge on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The exercise which was organised by the Ministry of Gender, Children Social Protection in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), will be undertaken in other communities such as Bukom, Ashaiman, Nima, Teshie and Nungua, and extended to other parts of the nation at large.

She said the exercise forms part of the ministry’s social protection mandate which is the responsibility towards the elderly to safeguard their rights, freedom and welfare provided by the 1992 Constitution.

“The ministry is ensuring an effective implementation of the National Ageing Policy and has also established an Ageing Desk to address issues related to the elderly.

“The ministry is also engaging banks and hospitals for priority service for the elderly, and the ministry of transport for free public bus service for the elderly,” she said.

Mr. Sylvester Mensah, Chief Executive Officer of the NHIA, said last year 381 aged women and men, people with mentally disorders and leprosariums were registered free under the NHIS.

Mr. Mensah said the NHIA is working to reach out to senior high school students under 18 years.

Alhaji Ibrahim Ajah, a beneficiary of Akoto-Lante on behalf of the aged said the exercise would help them in accessing health care.