The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is seeking to turn senior high school students into ambassadors of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) as part of efforts to increase public awareness and advance Universal Health Coverage in Ghana.
The initiative, being implemented through an inter-school Health Literacy Quiz Competition, is designed to equip students with knowledge about the scheme and encourage them to educate their families and communities on the importance of health insurance.
Speaking at the Upper East Regional edition of the competition, a senior management official of the NHIA, Abdul Karim Nantogmah, said the programme formed part of the Authority’s efforts to improve public understanding of the scheme.
“The Corporate Affairs Directorate initiated this Health Literacy Quiz Competition to groom students of the various secondary and second-cycle institutions across the country to serve as worthy and active ambassadors of the National Health Insurance Scheme in their communities,” he said.
The competition, organised by the Corporate Affairs Directorate of the NHIA, was held on Friday, November 6, 2026, at the Bolgatanga Girls Senior High School auditorium.
Mr Nantogmah said the NHIS, established in 2003 and operationalised in 2004, was intended to improve access to healthcare and reduce financial barriers to medical services.
He explained that achieving Universal Health Coverage remained a major priority for the Authority, with efforts focused on increasing enrolment and ensuring that more people benefited from the scheme.
“The cardinal or ultimate goal of the National Health Insurance Scheme is to achieve Universal Health Coverage. It is our major priority at the National Health Insurance Authority to ensure that all residents in Ghana, as well as people on long visits to the country, enrol onto the scheme and benefit from the National Health Insurance benefits package,” he stated.
According to him, the NHIS covers more than 95 percent of disease conditions recorded in Ghana, making it an important component of the country’s healthcare financing system.
He stressed that expanding public awareness and enrolment would help improve access to healthcare services.
Three schools participated in the Upper East Regional competition: Zebila Senior High/Technical School, Navrongo Senior High School and Sirigu Integrated Senior High School.
Zebila Senior High/Technical School emerged winner, with Navrongo Senior High School placing second and Sirigu Integrated Senior High School finishing third.
Awards and prizes were presented to the participating schools and students in recognition of their performances.
The NHIA expects the competition to strengthen students’ understanding of health insurance and encourage them to share information about the scheme with their peers, families and communities.
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