Daily Nation Newspaper

HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME IMPROVES

- By ANDREW MUKOMA

THENationa­l Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) has expressed happiness with the health insurance scheme service delivery at Monze and Chikuni Mission Hospitals.

NHIMA has also called for more Zambians both in the formal and informal sectors to register to the scheme in order for them to enjoy the numerous benefits.

NHIMA Director General, James Kapesa, noted with satisfacti­on the health scheme delivery in Monze and elsewhere initiated by Government few years ago.

Dr Kapesa said although the scheme faced hitches in the initial stages, it had managed to registered 820 beneficiar­ies, who were now accessing high quality health services.

He was speaking during the tour of the Chikuni Health facility in Monze.

Dr Kapesa said that NHIMA expected more people to register as they had responded well.

“I am impressed with Chikuni Mission Hospital for implementi­ng the NHIS to our beneficiar­ies but I want to state that this schuss of this scheme will only be realised if we register more people in the both the formal and informal sectors so that we can achieve the three million target in the next two to three years,” Dr Kapesa said.

Dr Kapesa disclosed that NHIMA would next year embark on a massive campaign to recruit as many Zambians between ages of 18 to 65 on the scheme as possible.

Meanwhile, Chikuni Mission Hospital acting Health Director Dr Kalume Mayombo said the facility received K105,000 from NHIMA as first allocation which was used to buy drugs, Hospital equipment and linen.

Dr Mayombo said the funds had significan­tly helped to enhance health service delivery to beneficiar­ies of the scheme.

However, Dr Mayombo noted that the dilapidate­d hospital infrastruc­ture, inadequate manpower were some of the challenges the health facility was faced with and required urgent attention.

And NHIMA Senior Public Relations officer, Mutolo Mwaba, said the organisati­on would actively engage the media to help in sensitisin­g members of the public and encourage them to register and enjoy the benefits.

She noted that many people including some Government officers were still ignorant of the scheme which started a few years ago.

 ??  ?? NHIMA Director General, Dr James Kapesa
NHIMA Director General, Dr James Kapesa

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