Ghana Medical Association expresses shock at helicopter crash

The Ghana Medical Association on Friday expressed shock and sorrow at last Saturday's helicopter crash with the loss of all seven people describing it as a "regrettable setback in the long tradition of the Ghana Air Force in carrying our emergency medical missions throughout the country."

A letter to the Minister of Health signed by Dr Jacob Plange-Rhule, President of the Association, expressed the condolences of the medical doctors to the bereaved families. The helicopter crashed in the Eastern Region while returning to Accra after lifting two accident victims from Nkawkaw. The bodies were found on Monday.

"It is the prayer of the Ghana Medical Association and the Ministries of Health and Defence and the Ghana Armed Forces will quickly investigate the cause(s) and put this disaster behind them and work together to prepare the Ghana Air Force adequately to resume its medical missions, which are a vital component of the country's health sector.

"We pray that this disaster will spur the government and all stakeholders on to evolve a sound National Emergency response Programme that can stand the test of time." The statement said the Ghana Medical Association was happy to note that a start had been made with the establishment of the Emergency Response Unit at 37 Military Hospital.

"We hope that all major hospitals in the country particularly those along the country's highways will be effectively covered by the emergency response programme and also provided with the necessary equipment to enable them to handle major accident cases and disasters to reduce the incidence of referrals and transfers by air and road."