AESDMHIS registers over 59,000 clients within a year

Winneba (C/R), Dec. 24, GNA- The Awutu-Effutu-Senya District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (AESDMHIS) has registered a total of 59,375 clients within the past twelve months.

The figure represents 31.48 percent of the district's total population of 188,585 that the scheme is expected to cover. Of the 59,375 registered clients, 40,582 were dependants representing 21.52 percent, followed by those in the formal sector with 8,848, 4.69 percent, and the informal sector 5,688 making up 3.02 percent.

The scheme registered a total of 3,230 aged people, representing 1.71 percent, pensioners 680 representing 0.36 percent, and indigents 347 representing 0.18 percent.

Mr. Christopher Oddoye, Manager of the scheme who announced these at an end-of-year staff meeting of the AESDMHIS at Winneba last Friday, urged workers of the scheme to intensify their awareness campaign during the yuletide festivities.

He said during the period under review the scheme issued out a total of 22,447 ID Cards to clients plus total attendant Cards of 15,752, indicating that every month some 1,750 clients use their ID Cards to source healthcare from various service providers in and outside the district which deals with the scheme.

Mr Oddoye said between December 2005 and November, 2006, the scheme premiums totalled 455,838,900 cedis.

He said the scheme received a total sum of 1,298,830,000 from the National Insurance Council (NHIC) for the payment of claims, whiles the total funds made available during the period under review was 1,754,668,900 cedis.

Mr. Oddoye said out of the amount, a total of 1,270,329,176 cedis has been paid to service providers as claims between January and September, this year.

Malaria topped the list of prevalent diseases in the district with 9,003 patients, followed by hypertension 1,413, respiratory tract problems 747, arthritis 646, review 575, enteric fever 551, gastrointestinal disorder 537, eye problems 367, and skin infection 364. Mr. Oddoye was full of praise for the Board of Directors of the scheme for their high sense of direction and unfailing pieces of useful advice, particularly from the board chairman Mr. Felix Kwei-Tagoe which culminated in the achievement of this feat.

He also extended similar gratitude to the Awutu-Effutu-Senya district assembly, especially the District Chief Executive, Mr. Solomon Kwashie Abbam-Quaye for the role he played in securing the scheme a printer when the need arose.

Mr. Oddoye further expressed satisfaction with the performance of the scheme workers and called for extra hard work, mutual understanding, uninterrupted co-operation and a high sense of team spirit to propel the scheme for greater achievements next year. He told the workers that both the government and the general public expects more credible service from them, adding that it was only through unity coupled with a deeper sense of commitment and devotion to duty that they could put up a good show.

Replying, the workers reaffirmed their commitment to the goals and aspirations of the scheme in the ensuing year, and appealed to the government to expedite action on plans to provide various district mutual health insurance schemes with means of transport to enable them to reach out to people in rural communities. 24 Dec 06