Korea assists healthcare in Volta

The Korean government has reiterated its commitment to support healthcare delivery in the Volta Region by providing medical equipment to nine health facilities in two municipalities in the region.

The equipment, estimated at $16,000, included drip stand, digital sphygmomanometer, ambubags, examination couch, megaphone, fridges, stainless dressing trays, hospital beds with mattresses, delivery set, hanging baby scales, among others.

The beneficiaries include nine community-based health planning services (CHPS) compounds in the Ketu-South and Keta Municipal areas.

A first batch of seven CHPS compounds received similar equipment, including motor-king ambulances in February this year.

The donation was part of the child maternal and child healthcare project being undertaken by the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in the Volta Region.

According to the Project Manager, Heunghee Kim, the project which is bent on improving maternal and child healthcare is a comprehensive package from the Korean government to the government of the Republic of Ghana.

It also has an overarching goal of reducing maternal and infant mortality rates in the target areas which are Ketu South Municipal, Ketu North District and Keta Municipal.

She was grateful that the project which began in 2014 and is expected to run till December 2016 enjoys the collaboration and support of the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

The component of the project include strengthening the capacity of maternal and child health (MCH) workers, strengthening the roles of CHPS compound, increasing awareness of local residents on MCH, supporting health facilities with medical equipment and management skills and project promotion.

CHPS Compound

Receiving the items, the Volta Regional Health Director, Dr Joseph Teye Nuertey, expressed gratitude to KOICA and the Korean government for their commitment towards strengthening the CHPS concept to take its place as the backbone of healthcare delivery in Ghana.

According to him, the CHPS model has a wider reach in tackling primary healthcare and child and maternal health in the country.

To this end, he urged community health nurses to intensify home visit which is the primary goal of the CHPS concept.

He assured KOICA and the Korean government that the equipment would be put to good use and well-maintained to ensure their longevity.