The Kassena-Nankana Municipality has officially launched the government’s Free Primary Healthcare Programme, a major initiative aimed at improving access to essential healthcare services, particularly for pregnant women, children, the elderly and other vulnerable groups.
The programme was launched at the Navrongo Health Centre on Wednesday, July 1, bringing together health professionals, officials of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), municipal authorities and other stakeholders, who pledged their commitment to its successful implementation.
Funded by the NHIA, the initiative will provide free primary healthcare services at Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds and health centres across the municipality. It also seeks to strengthen preventive healthcare through community outreach, home visits and routine health screening.
Addressing the gathering, the Kassena-Nankana Municipal Director of Health Services, Dr. Edmund Nellic Nyanwura, urged health workers to ensure that every resident benefits from the initiative by encouraging people without valid National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) cards to register or renew their membership.
“Anyone who comes to our facilities without health insurance should be directed to the health insurance office. Let us take advantage of this opportunity so our people can benefit fully from free primary healthcare,” he said.
Dr. Nyanwura announced that residents would receive free blood pressure screening at all primary healthcare facilities, while people living with diabetes would also benefit from free blood sugar testing.
He added that funding from the NHIA would enable health facilities to revive home visits and community outreach services that had declined in recent years due to funding constraints.
“We are starting today the free primary healthcare. Anyone can walk into this health centre and have their blood pressure checked, while diabetic patients will receive free blood sugar testing,” he stated.
He stressed that although primary healthcare services under the programme would be free, residents must continue renewing their NHIS membership because referrals for surgeries and other specialised services at hospitals would still require active insurance coverage.
“If you get appendicitis today, that surgery cannot be done at a CHPS compound or health centre. It must be done in a hospital, and without health insurance you will have to pay,” he explained.
The Municipal Health Director also reminded health workers to renew their professional licences and ensure that their facilities maintain valid NHIA accreditation, warning that expired licences undermine professional standards and service delivery.
He further called on health workers to intensify disease surveillance, particularly for cholera, following recent flooding in parts of the country.
“When you see someone with severe vomiting and diarrhoea, suspect cholera immediately. Early detection means our surveillance system is working,” he advised.
Launching the programme, the Kassena-Nankana Municipal Chief Executive, Faustina Akeyom Abulu, commended health workers for their dedication and urged them to continue serving patients with compassion and professionalism despite the challenges confronting the health sector.
She said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to bringing quality healthcare closer to communities and improving access to essential health services for women, children and the elderly.
“This initiative is brought by His Excellency to take very good care of our people. Our women, children and the aged will not have to travel far for basic healthcare,” she said.
Abulu officially declared the programme launched and expressed optimism that it would improve the health and well-being of residents across the municipality.
“By the power vested in me, I officially declare this Free Primary Healthcare Programme launched. May it bring healing, hope and good health to our people,” she added.
The Kassena-Nankana Municipal Manager of the National Health Insurance Authority, Emmanuel Addah, assured health workers of the Authority’s commitment to supporting the programme through timely reimbursement of claims and the provision of the necessary logistical support.
He noted that the NHIA had significantly improved its payment system and appealed to all health facilities to eliminate illegal co-payments.
“The payments have improved and are now more regular than before. We are particularly concerned about free healthcare at the lower-level facilities, and we do not want any facility in this municipality to be used as an example for charging illegal co-payments,” he stressed.
Addah also urged health workers to fully embrace the initiative and promptly refer cases beyond the capacity of CHPS compounds and health centres to higher-level facilities to ensure patients receive appropriate and timely care.
Mike 105.3FM I Navrongo | Elizabeth Apusaama
