Accra, March 23, GNA - Health care delivery at La General Hospital received a boost on Tuesday, when it received 60 electrical beds, mattresses and bed side cabinets from the Management of Project Commission. The Commission is an affiliate of Urgent Relief and Equipment (Project CURE), a US-based human development oriented non-governmental organisation (NGO).

The specially designed beds are fitted with other facilities to check the condition of any part of the human anatomy; including the hands, heart and feet.

The equipment estimated at 200,000 dollars was part of the more than nine million dollars worth of equipment the management of Project CURE had presented to institutions in the country since its inception. They were installed by HillRom, French NGO that had trained some staff of the hospital to maintain them.

The First Lady, Ernestina Naadu Mills, expressed appreciation to the management of Project CURE for its kind gesture, which she said would help replace more than 90 per cent of the beds at the hospital. She said health was a key component for a sound development strategy and pledged government's determination to improve on health care delivery. "Health is essential to a productive society and government is determined to endeavour to improve its delivery to ensure the health sector plays an important role in reducing poverty in the country," she added. The First Lady noted that lack of personnel and health facilities and motivation for health personnel are some of the challenges affecting the health sector.

"Government is aware of all these challenges and. would work to address them accordingly," she said. Mr. Rojo Mettle-Nunoo, Deputy Minister of Health said plans were far advanced for the construction of six new district hospitals, two regional hospitals and an additional military hospital in the country. He said the Tamale Teaching Hospital would be rehabilitated while efforts were being made for Ghana to change from the conventional film based x-ray imaging to the digital system. Mr. Michael Medoro, Country Representative of Project CURE, appealed to management of the hospital to take good care of the equipment. Dr. Dorcas Anfu, Acting Medical Superintendent of La General Hospital who received the equipment thanked the management of Project CURE for the equipment and called on other NGOs to emulate their gesture. 23 March 10