Childhood cancer to be covered under NHIS – Rebecca Akufo-Addo announces
The First Lady of the Republic of Ghana Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo has revealed that children battling with Childhood Cancers are to receive groundbreaking healthcare services, following the inclusion of the disease on Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Benefits Package.
This, she said, covers the diagnosis and treatment of the four Childhood Cancers, comprising Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, Burkitt Lymphoma, Retinoblastoma and Wilms Tumor.
These four, constitute approximately 60% of all Childhood Cancers and are highly curable if detected early. The First Lady announced the package at the official launch of the 2021 NHIS Week celebration, themed, “NHIS: Using the Ghana Card for Expanding Access to Health Care.”
This was at the Accra International Conference Centre where she described the inclusion of Childhood Cancers in the NHIS Benefit Package as a major intervention in the fight against childhood cancers.
“One major area of concern for many stakeholders was the financing of treatment, which placed a huge burden on families. Indeed, during the commissioning of the Sunshine House, speaker after speaker called for the inclusion of childhood cancers to the NHIS Benefit package. Today brings hope to our children and their families.”
She commended the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) for constantly being innovative. “This addition of childhood cancers to the NHIS Benefit Package is essential.
Commenting on the need for a collective effort, she elaborated that “We must institute awareness of early detection to increase better outcomes for our children. This calls for systematic and comprehensive education targeting communities, educators, health personnel, religious organizations, politicians, NGO’s and many others.”
“Education must also set cancer control as a priority health agenda for the larger population. Our people need to know the avoidable cancer risk factors, such as environmental carcinogens, tobacco use, alcohol abuse and infectious agents. Ghanaians need to be empowered to stay healthy.”
As Chair for the occasion, a representative of the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru stated, “All stakeholders should give maximum support to the NHIS to ensure a healthy nation.”
The Health Minister, Hon. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu lauded the theme saying, “It is in line with the national digitization agenda.
By: Elisha Aberiganya | Follow us on Twitter @activtvgh
