The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has taken its Faith and Wellness Drive to Global Bethany Church in Keta in the Volta Region, bringing registration and membership renewal services closer to congregants while promoting preventive healthcare and sustained access to medical services.
The outreach, held on Sunday, provided an opportunity for church members to register, renew their NHIS membership and receive information about the Scheme without having to visit a district office. An NHIS service desk was mounted on the church premises to serve congregants during both the first and second services.
The team also educated participants on the importance of maintaining active membership, the government’s Free Primary Healthcare (FPHC) initiative and the One-Time Attendance Code (OTAC), a digital tool used in healthcare access and membership verification.
The engagement forms part of efforts to take health insurance services into communities and institutions where people regularly gather, using faith-based platforms to improve public awareness and encourage wider participation in the Scheme.
NHIS Brings Registration Services Closer to Congregants
The Faith and Wellness Drive provided direct access to NHIS registration and renewal services within the church environment, allowing congregants to attend to their membership needs alongside their Sunday worship. The initiative also created an opportunity for participants to seek clarification on the Scheme and understand how active membership supports access to covered healthcare services.
Rev. Sebastian Kofi Sessi, Head Pastor of Global Bethany Church, welcomed the intervention and encouraged other pastors to partner with the NHIS in bringing registration, renewal and public education services closer to their congregations.
The church leadership further urged members and the wider public to embrace the Scheme and maintain valid membership to reduce barriers to healthcare when medical attention becomes necessary.
OTAC and Active Membership Take Centre Stage
Beyond registration and renewal, the NHIS team highlighted the One-Time Attendance Code as part of efforts to improve understanding of the digital processes associated with accessing healthcare under the Scheme.
The OTAC is among the digital tools being promoted by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to support verification and improve the management of attendance at healthcare facilities. The Authority has also encouraged members to keep their contact details updated to facilitate access to digital services.
In a recent public education exercise involving police recruits, the Information Services Department explained that members could generate the attendance code by dialling *929# and selecting option five before visiting a health facility. The NHIA has also promoted the use of its digital platforms to make membership services more accessible.
According to the Authority, members can renew their NHIS coverage through the *929# service or the MyNHIS mobile application, in addition to visiting district offices. NHIS membership is valid for 12 months and requires annual renewal.
The Authority advises members to renew within three months after expiry to avoid the one-month waiting period that may apply to defaulters, with exemptions for pregnant women, children under five and persons above 70.
Free Primary Healthcare Complements NHIS
The Keta engagement also highlighted the government’s Free Primary Healthcare initiative, which seeks to strengthen preventive healthcare and make essential services more accessible at the community level.
Launched by President John Dramani Mahama in April 2026, the programme covers services including screening for hypertension and diabetes, maternal and child healthcare, immunisation and treatment of common illnesses. The Ministry of Health has clarified that the initiative complements rather than replaces the NHIS.
While basic services under the FPHC programme are accessible regardless of NHIS membership, patients requiring hospital admission, surgery, specialist treatment and other higher-level care will continue to rely on the NHIS or other appropriate financing arrangements.
In September 2026, the Ghana News Agency reported that the programme had reached 135 districts across all 16 regions, operating through 4,447 health facilities, including CHPS compounds, health centres and polyclinics. The government’s broader objective is to shift healthcare delivery towards prevention, early detection and community-level intervention.
The NHIA has reaffirmed its support for the programme, identifying public education and collaboration with health-sector institutions as important to its implementation.
Faith Communities Support Wider Health Insurance Access
The engagement at Global Bethany Church reflects the potential role of religious institutions in strengthening public health education and extending essential services beyond conventional healthcare settings. Churches and other faith-based organisations provide established community platforms through which health institutions can reach people, address misconceptions and encourage responsible health decisions.
By welcoming the NHIS team, Global Bethany Church has joined efforts to promote insurance awareness and make membership services more convenient for its congregation. The church’s leadership also urged the public to take advantage of the Scheme and ensure their membership remains active. The message reinforces the importance of preparing for healthcare needs before illness occurs, rather than waiting until medical attention becomes urgent.
As the NHIA continues to engage communities through religious gatherings, festivals and other public events, initiatives such as the Faith and Wellness Drive offer an additional channel for improving awareness and encouraging enrolment.
The Keta outreach therefore extends beyond a registration exercise. It brings health insurance education into a familiar community setting while strengthening the connection between faith institutions, public health awareness and access to healthcare.
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