DFID supports health sector with vehicles, equipment for efficient health delivery
The United Kingdom (UK) Department for International Development (DFID) has presented vehicles and equipment worth about £979,000 to the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
The vehicles, which included two Nissan Patrols, 10 Nissan Pick-ups, 200 TVS Motorbikes, 500 bicycles and 24 Lenovo laptops, are to help officials bridge the equity gaps in geographical access to health care in four regions.
The beneficiary regions which fall under a “Maternal Child Health and Nutrition Improvement Project (MCHNP)” are the Brong Ahafo, Eastern, Central and Western regions.
The basic package for essential health services in the four regions would be facilitated through the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) activities.
Significance
The Programmes Manager of the DFID, Mr Archie Laing, who made the presentation, said delivery of high-quality health services at affordable cost would help provide care and treatment to the vulnerable.
“Over the years, Ghana has deepened its relationship with development partners to build effective, responsive, fair and efficient health systems to provide accessible services to our growing populations,” he said.
Mr Laing further explained that the gesture was based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the DFID and the Ministry of Finance to support the health sector under the CHPS activities.
According to him, the motorbikes would also facilitate health delivery in the districts, sub-districts and communities in areas such as immunisation, home visits and disease surveillance activities.
Gratitude
The Director-General of the GHS, Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, who received the items, expressed the gratitude of the GHS to the DFID for its continuous support to the health sector.
He assured the DFID of putting the vehicles and items to judicious use to help improve on health services, particularly in deprived communities.
Dr Nsiah-Asare entreated other stakeholders, including philanthropists, to also extend support to the GHS for efficient health delivery in the country.