UE/R: SOCO PROJECT FACILITATORS URGED TO WORK HARD FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT – DCE NABDAM
By – Sadat Dabo
The North East Regional Minister, Ibrahim Tia on Tuesday 16th June 2026 officially launched the Free Primary Healthcare Policy at the Regional coordinating council (RCC) in Nalerigu on behalf of the Government of Ghana and the Ministry of Health.
The policy forms part of government’s broader commitment to ensuring equitable access to healthcare services and strengthening the national drive toward universal health coverage. It is designed to improve access to essential healthcare, enhance early disease detection, and promote preventive care across both urban and rural communities.
Mr.Ibrahim Tia described the policy as a flagship initiative to remove financial and geographical barriers to healthcare, especially for the rural and underserved communities in the region. He urged District Assemblies, Health Committees at all levels, and, including stakeholders to support the rollout of the policy through public education and community sensitization.
Mr. Tia also commended health workers for their dedication and called for strong accountability and monitoring. He noted that the programme reflects President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to investing in healthcare infrastructure and personnel.
In his remark, the Regional Director of Health Service, Dr. Godfred Kwabena Sarpong, said the Free Primary Healthcare Policy is a major step towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) 2030. He noted that despite progress in healthcare delivery, challenges such as low NHIS coverage, inadequate infrastructure, poor road networks, and shortages of health workers continue to affect the region. Dr. Sarpong thanked stakeholders for their support and urged for continues collaboration to ensure the policy reaches every community.
Participants received presentations on The Medical Trust Fund (MahamaCares Initiative) and an overview of the Free Primary Healthcare Policy, delivered by the Deputy Director of Clinical Care and the Deputy Director of Public Health respectively. A question-and-answer session followed to clarify key aspects of the policy
The Regional Minister and Regional Director of Health Service in their closing remarks, urged the NHIS outfit to explore strategies that will enable them reach out to residents to increase the NHIS regional enrollment and coverag.
The event was chaired by the Director of Baptist Medical Centre- Nalerigu, Mr. Edward Addai.
The engagement ended with a call for collaborative action and practical recommendations to ensure the successful rollout of the policy across the region.
Source – gbcuraonline.com
