Medical Infrastructure for Asante Mampong Hospital Commissioned

Mampong (Ash), Nov. 9, GNA- Mr. Dennis Weller, Deputy Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Wednesday praised Ghana for its sustained commitment to good governance and democratic values, but said much more was needed to move the economy forward.

He said the country may not realize the dream of becoming a middle income nation with a per capita income of more than 1000 US dollars by 2015, if more energy and focus was not directed towards improving performance in key sectors such as health care delivery. According to Mr. Weller, though Ghana's macro economic indicators were pointing in the right direction, its development partners were worried that enough was not been done to achieve key Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially those that relate to efforts to improve maternal and child health.

Mr. Weller expressed these views at the commissioning ceremony of modern medical equipment, technologies and infrastructure for the Mampong District hospital at Asante Mampong.

The facilities, including two heavy duty back-up power generators, machanised water filtration system, electrical wiring, appliances communication systems, and medical monitors and accessories were donated by US-based General Electric (GE) Medical Systems under a partnership with the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

Mr. Weller said it was to enable Ghana to make progress towards achieving the MDGs as well as reduce poverty that the US government was supporting it with the Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC) and the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI).

He urged government to put in more efforts by upgrading health infrastructure and training more health care professionals to reduce the incidence of maternal and childhood deaths due to malaria and vaccine-preventable diseases.

The Vice President of GE in-charge of Corporate Citizenship, Mr. Bob Corcoran, in a statement said the donation was part of his Company's social responsibility to make health care more accessible to the poor in some parts of Africa.

He urged management of the hospital to make the facilities benefit the beneficiary communities at no extra cost than is required. Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, Director General of the Ghana Health Service told staff of the hospital to that they would have excuses for providing poor quality services because they have cutting edge equipment that are comparable to those in the advanced world.

On the shortage of medical doctors and other critical health professionals, Professor Akosa said the government was looking for long term solution to the problem.

He expressed government's appreciation to GE for its immense contribution to improve health care delivery in Ghana.

On his part, the Asante Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Kofi Asare appealed to the Mampong Traditional Council to emulate the sacrifice shown by donors by writing-off the two billion cedis compensation they are demanding for the hospital land.

He said that would be a clear demonstration of the traditional authorities' readiness to partner government to make health care services accessible to their subjects for improved quality of life. In a welcoming address, Dr. Emmanuel Ahiable, Medical Superintendent in-charge of the hospital said as the biggest district hospital in the Ashanti Region, the provision of the facilities was timely as they would boost the moral of staff to provide high quality services.

While expressing gratitude to the donors for the kind gesture, Dr.Ahiable pledged that the management of the hospital would take very good care of the 93priceless gift=94.

The Sekyere West District Chief Executive, Mr.Haruna Oppong Boateng, on behalf of the chiefs and people of the district thanked the donors for the assistance, saying their action was in line with government policy to make health care more accessible.

In October 2004, GE launched a 5-year 20 million dollar humanitarian project, aimed at improving health and education to communities in Africa through the provision of power generators, water filtration systems, appliances and medical equipment. Under its partnership with the Ghana Health Service, GE has provided these facilities to hospitals in Accra, Kumasi, Apam, Asesewa, Axim, Kete Krachi, Kintampo, Asante Mampong and Bole. 09 Nov. 06