A charity-based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Helpingothers, has taken the initiative to renew the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) cards for approximately 360 students at the Kalbeo-Tindonsobligo Primary School in the Bolgatanga Municipality.

This act of kindness was not limited to the students alone but also extended to members of the public, particularly the elderly residents of the Kalbeo and Tindonsobligo communities in the Upper East Region.

Ms. Claudia Garcia Castlo, a prominent member of the organization, shared during an interview with the Ghana News Agency that Helpingothers places great significance on health as a fundamental aspect of human life. Ensuring the health of children is a top priority for the organization.

She further explained that while the primary focus of the exercise was the students, it also benefited adults residing both within and beyond the community. This support allows them to access essential healthcare services.

Over the six years of the NGO's operations in the region, the team has observed that some residents possess inactive NHIS cards, necessitating them to pay for basic healthcare services at healthcare facilities.

She said there was the possibility to scale-up the help to other schools in the Municipality, “We are happy to do this, and we would love to continue with this in the future. It is an important exercise.”

Ms Castlo said their stay in Ghana had ended, and they would soon return to Spain, their home country.

Ms. Castlo expressed gratitude on behalf of her family members, who constitute the NGO, and extended their appreciation to their Church, friends, and her father, Mr. Antonio Garcia Condado, for their unwavering support over the years.

The Headmistress of the school, Madam Ajara Wayo, expressed her joy at the NGO's initiative. She noted that several pupils had NHIS cards that had been inactive for over three years, making the gesture even more valuable.

She said about 360 pupils were from Primary one to six, noting that “It is a good step in the right direction, and we thank the NGO and our Parent-Teacher Association’s Chairman for putting this exercise together.”

Mr Thomas Ayambila Apaala, the Assembly Member for the Tindonsobligo-Kumbanger Electoral Area thanked Helpingothers for the initiative and said it would encourage parents to visit health facilities.

He said some community members resorted to self-medication instead of visiting health facilities for care, owing to their inactive NHIS cards, and appealed to the NGO to extend the initiative annually to the community.

“It is a good initiative, and the community will be happy,” he noted.

The Assembly Member said the community lacked drinking water and toilet facilities and appealed to leadership of the NGO and others to consider them for such support.

Some parents of the pupils, who also benefitted from the exercise, expressed gratitude to Helpingothers and wished them well in all their endeavours.