NHIS Quiz Competition Will Help Students Educate Their Families – Official

An official of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has highlighted the importance of educating young people about the scheme, saying students can become important sources of information on NHIS benefits within their families and communities.

The official made the remarks after visiting Kintampo Senior High School on Tuesday to launch an inter-school quiz competition focused on the National Health Insurance Scheme.

According to the official, the initiative goes beyond competition, as it is intended to equip students with practical knowledge about NHIS services and benefits that they can share with relatives at home.

“Most Ghanaians learn what their NHIS card covers at the worst possible moment,” the official said, describing situations where families only seek information about NHIS coverage when a loved one is already ill and they are faced with medical expenses.

The official said such moments were not ideal for people to learn about the scheme, stressing that greater public awareness could help families make better use of their NHIS benefits before emergencies arise.

The inter-school quiz, therefore, is expected to serve as an educational platform for students while also creating an opportunity for them to take NHIS information back to their homes.

The official noted that students return home at the end of each term and interact regularly with parents, grandparents and other relatives who may need assistance accessing NHIS services.

A student who understands what the scheme covers, the official explained, could help family members understand their entitlements and even assist relatives who may have difficulties with digital services such as renewing their NHIS membership.

The official said the organisers were also visiting participating schools before the competitions to engage students directly, answer their questions and ensure that even those who do not eventually make the quiz teams benefit from the programme.

“This is not only a quiz,” the official said, emphasising the broader educational objective of the initiative.

Reflecting on the launch at Kintampo Senior High School, the official said the students demonstrated a strong interest in the subject and asked questions that exceeded expectations.

“Watching them at Kintampo, asking sharper questions than I expected, I left more hopeful than when I arrived,” the official said.

The official expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service for partnering on the initiative, as well as the Corporate Affairs Directorate for its work in organising the programme.

The students were also encouraged to share the knowledge they gain from the competition with their families.

“To those students: take it home with you. Somebody there needs what you are about to learn,” the official said.