The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has initiated an inter-school quiz competition and nationwide sensitisation exercise aimed at enhancing Senior High School students' understanding of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). This programme was launched on September 29, 2026, at Kintampo Senior High School in the Bono East Region. The initiative is a collaboration between the NHIA, the Ministry of Education, and the Ghana Education Service (GES) under the School Health Education Programme.
The programme aims to equip young people with practical knowledge of the NHIS, enabling them to become health-literate advocates in their homes and communities. According to Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe, the Chief Executive of the NHIA, the initiative will expose students to key aspects of the Scheme, including its policies, operations, benefits, digital services, and the responsibilities of beneficiaries. Students will also receive information on healthcare services covered under the NHIS.
A total of 48 schools from Ghana's 16 regions will participate in the competition, with three schools from each region. The competition will combine learning, interaction, and healthy competition while giving students a deeper understanding of the NHIS and its operations. The Director of Corporate Affairs at the NHIA, Mr. Oswald Essuah-Mensah, stated that the nationwide sensitisation exercise will prepare participating schools for the quiz through interactive question-and-answer sessions and mock quiz rounds.
Key areas to be covered during the sensitisation exercise include NHIS operations, digital registration through the MyNHIS App, and mobile membership renewal using *929#. Students will also be taken through the NHIS Benefit Package, medical services covered under the Scheme, primary healthcare, and the various beneficiary exemption categories. The exercise is intended to ensure that students understand not only how the NHIS operates but also how they can access and make use of its services.
The first phase of the nationwide exercise covered five schools in the Bono and Bono East regions. The initial phase included Our Lady Providence Girls SHS, Koase Senior High School, Akumfi Ameyaw SHS, Kintampo SHS, and Techiman SHS. The exercise will continue in the Ahafo Region on September 30, with visits to OLA Girls SHS, Serwaa Kese SHS, and Presbyterian SHS. Selected schools in the Ashanti Region will subsequently be engaged on October 2.
The inter-school quiz will progress through regional contests and inter-zonal rounds before culminating in a national grand finale and awards ceremony on November 26, 2026. The phased approach is expected to give students across the participating schools an opportunity to interact directly with NHIA officials and clarify questions about the Scheme. This will enable students to gain a comprehensive understanding of the NHIS.
The NHIA's initiative is part of its broader strategy to increase awareness and utilisation of the NHIS. By engaging Senior High School students, the Authority aims to promote greater understanding of the Scheme among young people, who can then share their knowledge with their families and communities. The programme is expected to contribute to the NHIA's goal of achieving 80% population coverage under its 2026-2028 strategic plan.
Key points
- The NHIA has launched an inter-school quiz competition and nationwide sensitisation exercise to deepen Senior High School students' knowledge of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
- A total of 48 schools from Ghana's 16 regions will participate in the competition.
- The programme aims to equip young people with practical knowledge of the NHIS, enabling them to become health-literate advocates in their homes and communities.
