Government Aims At Improving Living Standards-Dzamesi

Mr Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister, at the weekend said the government has put in place concrete pro-poor programmes and policies aimed at improving the standard of living of the citizenry. The Regional Minister made the observation in a speech read on his behalf at an end of year get-together for members of the National Health Insurance Authority and the send-off for the pioneer District Scheme Manager at Aflao. He mentioned the National Health Insurance Scheme, the Capitation Grant, School Feeding Programme and the National Youth Employment Programme as some of the interventions put in place by the government to enhance the social-economic situation in the country. Mr Dzamesi said even though people vehemently kicked against the National Health Insurance Scheme the policy has become the "saviour" without which many people, especially the vulnerable would have gone to their graves owing to their inability to pay for health care. He said the government in its determination to ensure the success of the scheme had sunk huge sums of money into its operations. He said the total registration as at December last year, stood at 135,650, while the total number of card bearing members assessing health services stood at 125,000. He urged members of the Board and staff of the Scheme to seize the opportunity to take stock of last year's performance and chart a new course for the ensuing year. The Regional Minister stated that there cannot be development in an atmosphere of confusion and chaos. He urged the people to team up with the government to ensure peace and tranquillity, to enhance the accelerated development of the country. Mr Dzamesi commended the security Agencies for their vigilance in maintaining law and order along the eastern corridor. He hoped the Region would experience peace during and after the elections. The Regional Minister commended the Board Members of the district Health Insurance Scheme and Mckof Ghana Limited, a consultancy firm for their invaluable services to the scheme. Mr Obed Okudzeto, Ketu Board Chairman of the Scheme mentioned some of the achievements of the board, and said that the scheme has now gone out of its teething problems. He commended the outgoing Scheme Manager Mr Raymond Avinu for his immense contribution towards the success of the scheme in the district. The outgoing Scheme Manager who has been elevated to the position of a Regional Scheme Manager thanked the Board and the people for assisting him to bring the scheme to reality and hoped same assistance would be given to the incoming Scheme Manager.