Boost for Health Sector

Four hundred and forty vehicles are to be purchased by the Ministry of Health, for GPRS-linked deprived locations - in particular the three northern and Central regions. Priority will be given to hard-to-reach areas in the country. This is expected to improve the mobility of health workers and movement of critical supplies to needy areas.

A press release from the Ministry of Information, signed by the Minister, Mr. Jake Obestebi-Lamptey, said contracts have also been placed for 200 motorbikes and 6 boats to support outreach services in hard-to-reach locations and a community based health planning services initiative. The total value is $6,377,390.31.

Seventy percent of the salon cars have been earmarked for staff and they are to pay through the normal payment mechanism.

The release said MOH has finalised work on a national Ambulance Service strategy. In order to operationalise the service, funds have been secured under the EDF to procure 50 ambulances as a start-up. Tenders would be launched by the end of September 2002 and the ambulances are expected to be delivered by April 2003 and will cost 2.1m Euro.

MOH is about to place contracts for the procurement of 250 computers to be distributed to each district level Budget and Management Centre (BMC) for better data management and reporting, and also facilitate district BMCs access to a newly created MOH website for improved communication and access to the wider internet for needed information.

Equipment and medical supplies have been procured for 50 health centres and 54 district hospitals to improve healthcare in rural locations in the country.

Funds have been secured to improve the equipment situation at the Department of Obstetrics/Gynaecology and refurbish the Medical Block at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, in line with the President's directive. The first phase of the Medical Block rehabilitation estimated to cost $2 million is expected to begin by October this year.

"It is expected that [these] interventions would improve the management and support system for efficient healthcare delivery in Ghana," the release ended.