Government claims that citizens can access healthcare without taking a hit to their bank accounts are proving to be false. In doubt? just ask residents of the small community of Nadondo in the northern region in the Mion district who have resorted to sheets of paper and exercise books as folders for their medications and health records.
This situation, residents say, frustrates and deters them from patronising healthcare facilities in the area.
This is contrary to government claims that issues confronting NHIS have been addressed and citizens can now access healthcare at no cost.
Residents of the community noted that the Nadondo CHIPS compound serves over 14 communities yet it is under resourced to meet the health needs of these communities.
The communities have endured this ordeal since January 2017. Sources close to the Mion district health directorate indicate that a contract has been awarded for the printing of 10, 000 folders, but, the contractor is yet to deliver the folders.
The source also revealed that only 2,000 folder copies have been produced, owing to lack of funds from the government to execute the contract.
On dispensing medication, community members expressed worries over the sale of drips to them though they are covered under the NHIS.
Meanwhile, the Yendi District Health Insurance Manager who supervises Mion NHIS, Mr Asuo Anthony, reacting to concerns on delays registering clients, noted that the operations of the Yendi Municipal Health insurance have been decentralized to improve quality and quick service delivery especially during registration.
He added that community-to-community teams tooled with mobile kits have been deployed to cater for the registration and renewal needs of clients.
He encouraged members of the communities to come out in their numbers and get registered so they could benefit from the scheme.
Mr. Anthony further encouraged members of Mion district to patronise the Yendi district Health Insurance Scheme instead of other neighbouring districts. He further cautioned communities not to pay money to individuals claiming to be officials from the Yendi district office.
“We will communicate to your assemblymen when we are visiting your communities for the registration and card renewal,” he added.
These issues came up when a monitoring and evaluation team, comprising NORSAAC, an advocacy and not-for-profit Non-Governmental Organisation in collaboration with the Mion district assembly in the Northern Region embarked on a one-day tour of three communities in the district.
The tour, aimed at assessing and improving the effective implementation of government’s social intervention programmes in the areas of Health, NHIS, LEAP, education and road infrastructure is facilitated by NORSAAC.
The tour became necessary after community based advocacy groups in Yankazee, KpunKpano and Nadondo communities expressed worrying sentiments on Health, NHIS, LEAP, Education and bad road infrastructure in their respective communities.
At a meeting with LEAP 100 beneficiaries and members of Yankazee community, the Mion district Social Welfare Officer, Madam Vivian Nyarko lamented the delays in paying 49 and 50.
She, however, assured the beneficiaries that challenges with the payments have been ratified and beneficiaries will receive both Pay 49 and 50 early October.
Madam Nyarko reminded all leap beneficiaries that health insurance registration is free for them and their households.
She asked them to visit the social welfare office for a cover note anytime their household members intend to renew or register for the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Abukari Jamaldeen/zaaradio.com