GESI, is a STAR Ghana-funded programme, being implemented by Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights (ARHR) in Agona, Komenda – Edina- Eguafo - Abirem (KEEA), in the Central Region and South Dayi in the Volta Region.

The focus is to ensure that women, men, boys and girls in the beneficiary communities, are empowered to pursue their human rights and fundamental freedoms.

It also ensures that they are valued as equal active participants in the wellbeing of their households, workplaces, communities and societies.

Ms Doris Ampong, Communications Officer of ARHR, made these disclosures while addressing a stakeholder validation meeting in Kumasi.

She said a participatory monitoring of health facilities and services in the month of November this year in the selected Districts indicates that access and coverage of NHIS, had improved significantly in these districts.

In the Agona District alone, she said a total of 2,304 persons, who were members of the GESI group, were enrolled onto the scheme between January and September, this year.

A total of 2,273 people were recorded around that same period in 2018.

Ms Ampong said this was an indication that efforts by ARHR in achieving universal health coverage in the beneficiary Districts, are on course.

She said five satellite NHIS offices have been established in health centres in the South Dayi District, to address the challenges of accessibility with regard to getting enrolled onto the NHIS.

Through continuous education as indicated in the GESI monitoring tool, NHIS holders now accept that not all health conditions are covered under the NHIS, thus   they ought to pay for these services.

In Agona District, the report indicates that the relationship between the NHIS service providers and GESI groups have improved through the collective efforts of the leadership of NHIS and the community leaders.

There has been cordial relationships between health service providers and adolescent.

This, according to the report, has enabled adolescents to share confidential information with health service providers.

Again, newly-constructed health facilities in the KEEA are disability-friendly.