The Ministry of Health (MoH) has donated four ambulances and a water tanker to the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Tamale Teaching Hospital to support Ghana’s health system.
The Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital received an ambulance each and Tamale Teaching Hospital received a water tanker and an ambulance, at a total cost of One Million Five Hundred and Sixty-five Thousand, Forty United States Dollars and Sixty-five Cent (USD1,565,040.65).
Speaking at the ceremony on Tuesday in Accra, the Minister Designate for Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye commended the Japanese government for their continuous support to Ghana.
“As a country, we have benefited from the long and successful relationship with the Government of Japan which dates back several years through Technical Assistance, Grant aid and donation of equipment and commodities.”
He added that through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), various initiatives continue to be implemented to improve the health of Ghanaians.
According to him, notable projects and programmes supported by the Government of Japan are; African Health and Well-being Initiative, Universal Health Coverage Drive of Ghana, Development and launch of the National Health Policy and Ghana’s COVID-19 response among others.
He added, “We therefore re-emphasize the importance of all these investments of our Universal Health goal especially in improving access to quality health services in Ghana. Six (6) units of direct digital X-Ray machines with their accessories for: Tamale West Hospital, Sunyani Municipal Hospital, Juabeso Hospital, Tarkwa Apinto Hospital, Axim Hospital, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Two units of Water Tankers and Six (6) units of Ambulance. Twenty-one (21) units of thermal cameras for scanning body temperatures which have already been installed at various airports and orders across the country.”
Dr Okoe Boye mentioned that the Ministry was pursuing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Agenda with a goal of increased access to quality essential health care and public health services for all by 2030.
According to him, the Universal Health Care roadmap would ensure that Ghanaians have timely access to quality health services irrespective of their ability to pay at the point of use.
He advised the beneficiary institutions to ensure regular servicing of the vehicles, avoid misuse and have an effective maintenance regime on them to support the objectives of the UHC.