Encourage public to register with NHIS

Hohoe, Mar 19. GNA- Dr Samuel T. Kwashie, Acting Volta Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) on Friday urged health workers to encourage the public to subscribe to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

He said as health workers they have a greater stake in the success of the Scheme.

Delivering the keynote address at the 2006 End-Of-Year Get-Together to honour distinguished past and present members of staff of the Service, Dr Kwashie implored employees of the Service to work closely with the various Scheme Managers for successful implementation of the Scheme. He entreated them to discharge their social, moral and professional responsibilities in a dignified manner so as to win the respect of their clients and society.

Dr Kwashie cautioned against any inclinations towards over-rating performances, but rather, there should be regular appraisal and transparency in assessment criteria so that, "it would not matter if the same person year-in year-out continues to pick the ultimate award". Dr Kwashie appealed to health workers to take advantage of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) to regularly update their knowledge and be abreast with time.

Dr Edwin K. Danoo, Medical Superintendent of the Hohoe Government Hospital said 10,123 malaria cases were recorded at the Out-Patient Department (OPD) of the hospital in 2006, with 1,194 being on admission and 93 deaths.

He said postnatal maternal deaths decreased from 17 in 2005 to six in 2006.

Dr Danoo said a total of 1.8 billion cedis were expended on 18,687 patients under the NHIS with its drawback being the delay in the payment of claims.

He said the Hospital is saddled with numerous constraints including inadequate exemptions refund, non-availability of an ambulance, unfenced boundaries and insufficient clinical staff.

Dr Danoo said the hospital however achieved a reduction in the maternal deaths rates culminating in the designation of the hospital as "Baby Friendly" and being able to handle the increasing numbers of outpatient attendants.

Mr Edwin Avegah-Kamabla, Presiding Member of the Hohoe Assembly, reminded nurses that the quality of their interpersonal relationship with patients was crucial to their quick recovery.

He commended the Hospital management especially its Medical Superintendent for their sound financial management, which had translated into improvements in some facilities in the hospital. Dr Michael Ahedor, Hohoe District Director of GHS was optimistic that the application of skills acquired by some health workers on regenerative health and nutrition would further reduce the infant and maternal mortality rates, this year.

He said apart from the clinical therapeutics in the treatment of malaria, the GHS was encouraging home-based care including the usage of mosquito bed nets, good environmental sanitation and good personal hygiene to prevent the malaria scourge.

Dr Ahedor appealed to the Regional Directorate of the GHS to post additional doctors to the Hohoe facility as a matter of urgency. Mr Bright Ahetor, an Accounts Clerk was adjudged the Best Worker and received a tabletop refrigerator and a citation, while 36 other former and present members of staff received awards and citations.

Earlier, a 498 million cedis Laboratory and Blood Bank funded from its Internally Generated Fund (IGF) and government was commissioned.