Hundreds of people defy the showers for the "Mie Kukum" demonstration in Ho

Ho, May 31, GNA – Hundreds of people
including some executive members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in
the Volta region on Friday challenged a morning shower for a street protest
against what they described as a "collapsing national health insurance scheme".

The demonstration, nicknamed "Mie kukum" (we
dying), was organized by the Coalition of Health Care Delivery Monitors, a
pressure group, and attracted commercial motorcycle operators, and
groups of traditional warriors from the municipality of Ho, all dressed in black and red.

The three-hour street demonstration was
characterized by dancing and singing with some protesters displaying
posters, some of which read as follows: "Nana pays the NHIS claims on time", "NHIS is
now cash and take-away "," We pay for paracetamol "and" NHIS does not work ".

Coalition leaders and regional representatives
The leaders of NDC took turns to address the gathering at Nfodjoh Park in
about 1000 hours, mainly calling on the government to "fix" the NHIS.

Mr. Precious Agbenya, Member of
The coalition claimed that NHIS subscriptions were currently at 64%, down
76% under the previous government.

Mr Benjamin Kpodo, Member of the European Parliament
Ho told the media that for months, most health facilities were accountable
Scheme, a situation that has affected the delivery of health services.

He said that the NDC was committed to well-being
of the population and obliged to inform the stakeholders of the situation on the
ground.

Mr. James Gunu, NDC Regional Secretary
said that it was necessary to send a signal to the president telling him that the scheme was
did not work and that the stacking of arrears had driving effects on
provision of health care.

He alleged that the current administration
inherited many investments in health care infrastructure
Government, and called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to "consider
the fate of the poor "and to ensure that the provision of health care is not
brought back to the era of "cash and carry."

"We need to send a strong signal to
President that the scheme does not work. People pay their taxes and
must reap the benefits. We must not go back to cash and carry, "he said.

Meanwhile Mr. Joseph Homenya, Volta Regional
Director of the National Health Insurance Authority in an interview with the
The Ghana News Agency described the event as a "walk for health".

He said that it was not true that the NHIS was
collapse and that the Plan's achievements in terms of membership, innovation,
Accreditation and payment of claims was unmatched.

"Health insurance does not collapse … it has
acquired badets he has not acquired in the past … we deliver at our best
even if we want to do more and that manifests itself in many ways … Health
insurance is much better than in the past, "he said.

Mr. Homenya stated that active members of the
Regime in the Volta region at the end of April 2019 was 848,444 out of 797,625
January 2018 and that the figures reflect the increase in the number of
subscription, which currently amounts to 11,021,850.

He said that more than 98 percent of health
facilities were paid in the Volta region and those due by the Government
Scheme had yet to submit their requests.

Mr. Homenya said that innovations such as
mobile renewals would minimize the difficulties of renewing subscriptions, and
more than 79,000 subscribers in the region had accessed the portal.

He asked subscribers to easily report
health institutions requesting cash payments for services covered by the
the Authority for repair.

Mr. Kafui Agbleze, NDC Regional
Director of Communications and Aspiring Candidates for Regional Advisor
The president of the NDC was among the protesters.

GNA