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Health News of Monday, 4 August 2014

Source: Eric Kwame Amesimeku

Tigo provides free health care for Kumasi residents

Tigo in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) office at Bantama, a suburb of Kumasi, have organized a free registration exercise for children below 18 years and the aged onto the scheme.

The initiative forms part of the telco's Corporate Social Responsibility of ensuring that the vulnerable and disabled persons within the broader Ghanaian society receive free medical care.

Speaking to the media during the registration exercise, the Ashanti regional Brand Image Manager of Tigo, Ernest Agbedanu, noted this would go a long way in promoting good health and by extension, sustainable national development.

Mr. Agbedanu further disclosed that Tigo as corporate entity has outlined several measures to help ease the suffering of the vulnerable in society from such challenges as lack of proper health care.

“I consider it necessary and relevant to take on such an initiative which is aimed at easing the burden one has to endure before acquiring a National Health Insurance Card. With this initiative, beneficiaries can access or renew expired NHIS cards which have become a necessity for most people in the country” he noted.

According to him, Tigo has outlined plans which were far-advanced to extend the initiate to other parts of the country, most especially to remote areas of the country.

The exercise brought together children of all ages, community members, market women among others. Besides registering the beneficiaries free of charge, Tigo also provided play toys to children while the adults also received Tigo souvenirs, call credits and other prices. .

Ben Kufour, the Public Relations Officer for the NHIA offices at Bantama, on his part, commended Tigo for the initiative and called on other corporate entities to prioritize health related issues when considering avenues to give to the society.

“What makes this exercise different is that, Tigo is single-handedly paying for all the administrative costs which were supposed to be allocated by holders, in fact they need to be applauded to pave way for other corporate entities to emulate their gesture”. He added.

Beneficiaries had their NHIS cards handed over to them instantly upon registration so they could access healthcare whenever the need arose.