Covid-19: Gov’t Announces Special Life Insurance Cover For Health Workers

The Health Ministry has announced a special life insurance cover for the 10,000 health personnel and allied professionals attending to COVID-19 pandemic response.

In a letter signed by the Minister of Health, Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu and addressed to all heads of the agencies within the sector, the government indicated that frontline staff involved in the COVID-19 response have been insured under benefits such as Group life cover with an assured sum of GHS 350, 000 per life.

Those who will attend to patients with critical illness have been assured a sum of GHS 25, 0000 per life, while those who will treat persons with any form of disability has been pegged at GHS 10,000 per life totalling a premium of GHS 10, 309,919.94.

“As a health professional and allied professionals at the frontline of the COVID 19 response, I seize the opportunity to thank you and your families sincerely for the sacrifice to this national challenge. The Government of Ghana would like to communicate to the Heads of Agencies that the frontline staff involved in the response have been insured under the [above] cover.”

“Please note that the Allied Professionals include all men and women who have been deployed to respond to COVID-19. Please bring this to the attention of all staff deployed and please ensure the appropriate documentation of the process which is strategic for the next steps”, the statement added.

NSS Nurses, Midwives Asked To Remain At Post

Earlier the Ministry of Health asked all nurses and midwives currently undergoing National Service to remain at post until the end of their service.

Though the National Service Secretariat (NSS) earlier directed all Service Personnel to take a mandatory paid leave, the Ministry in a statement said nurses and midwives were exempt because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“The Ministry of Health in collaboration with the National Service Scheme would like to inform its stakeholders that in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic, the service of nurses, midwives and other frontline healthcare workers are very critical and essential.”

“The Ministry of Health is, therefore, requesting that all Nurses and Midwives currently undergoing national service should remain at post until the end of their service.

In addition, all nurses and midwives who are due to commence the 2020/2021 national service “should report to the various posting centres to commence their service as required” adding that “seeking financial clearance to engage the 2017-2018 graduate nurses and midwives.”