Government to stop brain drain in health sector

The government is making strenuous efforts at stopping the brain drain in the health sector through the improvement in conditions of service of all health workers.

Mr. Ernest Akubour Debrah, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, who announced this on Thursday said efforts were also being made to provide better equipment in the health sector to ensure efficiency.

He was speaking at the commissioning of a one billion cedis primary health care centre, for the Mathias Catholic hospital in Yeji, in the Atebubu District.

The occasion also marked the 10th anniversary celebration of the hospital, which began operations in 1991.

Mr. Debra said government would ensure that nurses are posted to all communities throughout the country.

He said a vigorous campaign has also been mounted as part of efforts to eradicate malaria and to prevent the spread of typhoid fever and HIV/AIDS, in the country.

The Society of Jesus-Mary-Joseph (JMJ), a Netherlands based Catholic religious organisation, funded the construction of centre and other renovation works at the hospital.

The health care centre, with a hall and facilities for conferences and seminars/workshops would mainly cater for antenatal services, health education and immunisation programmes and HIV/AIDS counselling.

Dr. Isaac Kofi Asare, Regional Director of Health Services said the Ministry of Health would do its best to improve the health delivery system, since it plays a significant role in national development.

He said apart from the Yeji sub-district and its catchment area, and Kwame Danso District, the centre caters for patients from the Northern and Volta Regions.

Dr Asare commended the only expatriate medical officer, Dr I.E. Visser and the medical and para-medical staff of the centre for their dedication to duty.

He presented a 25 million cedis blood bank fridge, which has the capacity to store 50 units of blood and jointly acquired by the regional health administration and the German Development Service (GTZ) to the hospital.

Sister Lucy Gade, Administrator, said the hospital was established through the initiative of the Most Rev. James Kwadwo Owusu, Catholic Bishop of Sunyani.

Among those present were the Most Rev. George Kochery, Apostolic Nuncio (Pope's accredited representative) to Ghana, Togo and Benin and Most Rev. Peter Kwadwo Appiah Turkson, Catholic Archbishop of Cape Coast.