Cherembo Health Center ignored by NHIS

Community members at Cherembo in the Pru West District, Bono East Region have abandoned their Health Center due to the facility's refusal to accept National Health Insurance Scheme cards.

According to the staff at the Cherembo Health Centre, all efforts to be hooked to the NHIS scheme have proven futile which has affected works. Nurses at the centre told Soireenews that they sit idle for several days without patients visiting the facility.

They disclosed that the facility's cash and carry system under the Catholic Health Unit in Techiman is quenching attendees interest which has been a worry by residents.

During a visit by Soireenews correspondent, Abdul Samad to the centre, the staff made known that only three to six clients are treated in a month, a situation lamented on by the Chief of the community Cherembowura Wucharre II, who doubles as a board member of the Health centre.

He indicated that many residents want to access the facility but paying money for services rendered is a worry and deters them. The Chief explained that the board have used all means possible to hook join onto the NHIS but it is still feeling like a long-term dream.

He narrated that in 2020 some officials of NHIS from Accra were at Cherembo to assess the facility but nothing has been heard about the process since their departure.

The health facility block was built by the community and handed over to the Catholic Health Unit before a bungalow to accommodate nurses was embarked by the community, yet it has been stalled due to the lack of funds.

The nurses complained of spending much to rent rooms to work in the community, as a high cost of living just like urban areas as Accra and Kumasi was also addressed.

They have therefore called on the Ghana Health Service and all stakeholders to come to grant the Health Center NHIS accreditation and also help to put their bungalows in a better shape.

Abdul Sammed Gurundari, Cherembo -Pru West District, Bono East Region.