The Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, has unveiled a 22-seater fibre boat for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) at Zikpo Nyuinyui in the Kwahu Afram Plains North District.
The boat is expected to improve access to NHIS services for residents in island communities across the district, particularly those that are difficult to reach by road.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Mrs Awatey said the boat would enable NHIS officials to extend registration, membership renewal and other outreach services to communities including Dwarf Island, Digya Island and Dodi Island.
She noted that the Volta Lake had for years posed a major transportation challenge for residents seeking access to NHIS services, limiting the ability of officials to regularly reach some communities.
According to her, the new boat would help overcome the transportation barrier and make it easier for NHIS personnel to deliver services to residents in the affected communities.
Mrs Awatey said the intervention formed part of the government’s broader commitment to expanding access to healthcare and ensuring that geographical location does not prevent citizens from benefiting from essential health services.
She further linked the initiative to the government’s Free Primary Healthcare programme, stressing the importance of bringing healthcare services closer to underserved communities.
The intervention is expected to strengthen NHIS operations and outreach in the Kwahu Afram Plains North District, particularly among residents living on islands and other hard-to-access areas.
The regional minister expressed the hope that the facility would contribute to improving healthcare access and ensure that more residents are able to register for and maintain their NHIS membership.
