Health workers worried about low patronage of NHIS in Gomoa West

Gomoa Oguaa (C/R), April 15, GNA - Miss Alberta Kuofie, a staff nurse in charge of the Gomoa Oguaa Health Centre, with other health workers, has expressed concern about the low number of registered people under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the Gomoa West District.

Miss Kuofie in her annual performance report at the centre's open day ceremony, said only 78 out of the 3,302 OPD attendance recorded, in 2006, were insured. In 2007, she said, only 274 of the 2,913 patients were insured while in 2008 it was 498 out of 3423. She, therefore, appealed to chiefs, queenmothers, assembly members and religious organizations to help in the education on the importance of the NHIS.

Miss Kuofie said malaria was the leading ailment reported at the facility, which was established in 1971, to serve 67 communities. According to the nurse, 952, 852 and 839 cases of malaria were recorded in 2006, 2007 and 2008 respectively. Mr Samuel Sosi, Central Regional Nutrition Officer, who represented the Regional Director of the Ghana Health Services (GHS), appealed to heads of clans to ensure that their members registered with the NHIS to enable them to access affordable healthcare services. Mr Sosi cautioned the staff of health facility against driving away patients with negative attitudes.

"Many people feel reluctant to seek treatment at health facilities and resort to self-medication because of the rude behaviour of some nurses and other members of staff," he pointed out. Mr Fred Addae, Gomoa West District Coordinating Director, announced plans to start the prosecution of sanitary offenders at the law courts and appealed to the people not to politicize the exercise since, "We believe that the prosecution will make the people alive to observing good sanitation."

Ms Gifty Ankrah, District Director of GHS, called on health workers to work towards allaying the fears of people towards health institutions to improve patronage.

She announced that the health centre was one of the 26 facilities declared: "Baby friendly" in the region and appealed to the nearby communities to support the staff to maintain the standard. Mr Francis Arthur, Member of Parliament for Gomoa West, expressed concern about the level of education in the district, which ranked last in the region's grading of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) performance assessment.

He appealed to pupils, parents and teachers to reverse the trend. Mr Arthur, a teacher by profession, pledged to do his best to motivate teachers to improve upon standard. Mr Mark Nii Lamptey, the Manager of the Gomoa Health Insurance Scheme, denied rumours that the NHIS had been scrapped and said since it was established by an Act; it was only Parliament which could scrap it. Mr Francis Yawson, the Administrator of the Apam Catholic Hospital, on behalf of the facility, presented a delivery bed to the health centre.

Nana Adabo Mensah II, Nifahene of Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Area, condemned the apathy of some Ghanaians towards health programmes. He said the health centre had brought a great transformation in the lives of the people of the area. The chief said the area, which was noted as guinea worm endemic, has had the disease completely eradicated through the efforts of the centre. 15 April 09