NHIA Grooms Student Health Ambassadors Through Quiz Competition to Advance Universal Healthcare

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has stepped up efforts to promote health literacy and advance Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through an inter-school quiz competition designed to groom students as ambassadors of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The competition, organised by the Corporate Affairs Directorate of the NHIA, was held on Friday, November 6, 2026, at the auditorium of Bolgatanga Girls Senior High School (BOGISS) in the Upper East Region.

The initiative brought together students from three senior high schools to test their knowledge of the NHIS while equipping them with the information needed to educate their peers, families and communities on the importance of health insurance.

Speaking at the event, a senior management staff member of the NHIA, Abdul Karim Nantogmah, said the competition was part of a deliberate strategy to develop young people into active advocates 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 stated.

Mr. Nantogmah explained that the programme aligns with the NHIA’s broader commitment to expanding public awareness and ensuring that more residents benefit from accessible and quality healthcare.

He recalled that the National Health Insurance Scheme was established in 2003 and became operational in 2004, with the overarching objective of achieving Universal Health Coverage in Ghana.

“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 said.

He further disclosed that the NHIS currently covers more than 95 per cent of disease conditions recorded in Ghana, underscoring its importance in the country’s healthcare delivery system.

According to him, the Authority remains committed to ensuring that no resident or eligible visitor is excluded from accessing quality healthcare because of a lack of health insurance coverage.

“The National Health Insurance Scheme covers over 95 per cent of disease conditions recorded in Ghana. Our ultimate aim is to ensure that no resident in Ghana, or people on long visits to the country, are left unattended to or left behind when it comes to quality healthcare services. This is what we mean by ensuring that we achieve Universal Health Coverage,” Mr. Nantogmah added.

Three schools participated in the Upper East Regional competition: Sirigu Integrated Senior High School, Zebila Senior High/Technical School and Navrongo Senior High School.

At the end of the keenly contested competition, Zebila Senior High/Technical School emerged overall winners, with Navrongo Senior High School taking the second position, while Sirigu Integrated Senior High School placed third.

The participating schools and students who distinguished themselves during the competition received various awards and prizes in recognition of their performances.

The NHIA initiative is expected to extend health insurance education beyond the classroom by empowering students to serve as information ambassadors and promote enrolment and effective utilisation of the NHIS.

Through the involvement of young people, the Authority hopes to strengthen public understanding of the scheme and contribute to Ghana’s broader efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage, where access to quality healthcare is not limited by financial barriers.