The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) says it will provide a 90-day insurance cover for new born babies whose mothers are active members of the scheme. The Authority said after the 90 days parents would be required to register their babies for onward service delivery. Mr Ras Boateng, Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority announced the package in a speech read for him at the third Annual General Meeting of the Manya Krobo District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme at Agormanya on Monday. He said the babies would be covered under their mothers’ National Health Insurance cards and noted that the measure was aimed at addressing high infant mortalities in the country. Mr Boateng said a survey conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and other donor agencies in 2006, showed that infant mortality rate now stands at 71 deaths per 1,000 live births. He announced that a total of 17,650 pregnant women in the Eastern Region had so far registered to have access to free maternal health care services since the commencement of the exercise in July this year. Mr Boateng said Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar District had recorded the highest registration number of 1,814. Mr Boateng, however, advised women not to abuse the policy, since giving birth to many children could affect the health of the mother and also put undue financial burden on the entire household. Source: GNA