Health personnel in deprived communities to enjoy special package

Nkwanta, Jan 23, GNA - The Ghana Health Service (GHS) would soon start the payment of Deprived Area Allowance Scheme (DAAS) package to health professionals who would accept postings to deprived areas, Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, the Director-General of the Service said.

He was addressing health workers at Nkwanta District as part of his tour of health facilities in the Volta Region, on Wednesday. Prof Akosa said fifty-five such deprived areas have been mapped out nationwide to benefit from the incentive that would be managed by the district assemblies.

He said the concept was to make healthcare delivery more accessible and affordable to people in deprived communities who according to him constituted 70 per cent of the country's population.

Prof Akosa assured health professionals that logistics, accommodation and other incentives would be provided to enhance their work.

He said a national committee on additional duty hour allowance was addressing the issue and would soon come out with a report.

Prof Akosa said 415 cars have been bought for senior health staff and tenders have also been completed on bids for the purchase of 500 motorbikes and 1,000 bicycles.