Residents of the Banda District in the Bono Region can now access National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) services within the district following the commissioning of a new National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) office at Banda-Ahenkro.
The district had been without an NHIA office since its creation in 2012, forcing residents to travel long distances to neighbouring districts such as Wenchi and Nsawkaw to access NHIS services.
Commissioning the facility, the Chief Executive Officer of the NHIA, Dr Victor Asare Bampoe, charged staff to intensify their outreach activities and work towards achieving at least 80 per cent active membership coverage in the district within the next six months.
The target forms part of a broader national directive by the NHIA to achieve an 80 per cent active membership threshold across districts as the country works towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The newly constructed two-storey office complex is expected to bring NHIS registration and renewal services closer to residents and reduce the challenges associated with travelling outside the district.
The project was funded through the MP Health Insurance Fund allocation of the Member of Parliament for Banda and Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Ahmed Ibrahim.
Mr Ibrahim said the lack of an NHIS office in the district had created significant difficulties for residents, with some reportedly spending more than three days trying to register or renew their NHIS cards.
He said some residents previously travelled for up to four hours to access NHIS services in neighbouring districts.
To improve outreach to communities in remote areas, Mr Ibrahim donated a vehicle and two motorbikes to the new office to enable NHIS personnel to reach residents who may otherwise struggle to access the facility.
He said the MP Health Insurance Fund had also supported the construction of Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds in various parts of the district.
Mr Ibrahim further disclosed that plans were advanced to construct accommodation for NHIS personnel and other government workers as part of efforts to attract and retain public servants in the district.
He appealed to traditional authorities, residents and particularly the youth to protect the new facility and support NHIA staff in their efforts to increase active membership and improve access to health insurance services across the district.
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